How Do Historians and Natural Scientists Differ in Their Use of “Explain”?
Causality: Scientific vs. Historical 🔍
Linear Causation in Science
Natural scientists use explanations centered on clear, linear cause-and-effect—such as Newton’s laws. These universal principles allow predictions across contexts.
- Discover more about how the natural sciences explain through empirical laws in RevisionDojo’s post “Theory of Knowledge (TOK)”, where the natural sciences and their use of evidence are explained in detail (revisiondojo.com).
Complex Causation in History
Historians interpret events as outcomes of overlapping causes—social movements, leadership actions, cultural shifts, and more. There's rarely a single cause.
- For guidance on structuring historical investigations with multiple causes, check “10 Expert Tips to Choose a Focused and Clear History IA Research Question (2025 Guide)” (revisiondojo.com).
Use of Evidence in History vs. Natural Science
Types of Sources Used
Historians rely on primary sources—documents, personal accounts, artifacts—each needing interpretation.
Scientists collect quantitative data via experiments and observations.
- Want to improve your historical source analysis? Read “Understanding IB History: A Comprehensive Guide” for strategies and deeper insights (revisiondojo.com, revisiondojo.com).
- For analytical methods in science and history reading, including evaluation techniques, review “Approaching SAT Reading Passages in Science and History” (revisiondojo.com).
Reliability and Bias in Interpretation
Historical reasoning involves assessing bias, author perspective, and context.
Scientific methods use controlled procedures and peer review to minimize bias and ensure reliability.
The Role of Time and Temporality
Chronological Events in History
Explaining history often requires constructing a timeline to show how earlier events led to later outcomes.
- Learn timeline-building techniques in “Understanding IB History: A Comprehensive Guide” (revisiondojo.com, revisiondojo.com).
Timeless Laws in Science
Scientific explanations apply regardless of time or place—for example, gravitational laws and thermodynamics.
- Explore how Areas of Knowledge like natural sciences form explanations based on empirical evidence in “Theory of Knowledge (TOK)” (revisiondojo.com).
Language and Style of Explanation
Use of Narrative in History
Historians structure explanations through compelling narratives—motives, events, settings—to make past events relatable.
- More on crafting effective history writing in “Understanding IB History: A Comprehensive Guide” (revisiondojo.com).
Use of Technical Language in Science
Scientific explanations rely on specialized terminology, formulas, and precise definitions aimed at neutrality and clarity.
- RevisionDojo’s TOK guide highlights how natural sciences use language to build knowledge claims and explanations (revisiondojo.com).
Objectivity vs. Subjectivity in Explanation
Value Judgments in Historical Writing
Historians often evaluate the significance of events and interpret what they meant to people at the time.
- For tips on analytical historical questions and research design, check out “10 Expert Tips to Choose a Focused and Clear History IA Research Question (2025 Guide)” (revisiondojo.com).
Aim for Neutrality in Science
Scientific explanations strive to remain free from personal or cultural bias, relying instead on reproducible data.
Examples of Historical Explanation
The Fall of the Roman Empire
Here, historians weave together political instability, leadership decisions, economic decline, and external invasions—a complex causation model.
- RevisionDojo’s guides on structuring historical essays and investigations can help unpack such cases; see “Understanding IB History: A Comprehensive Guide” (revisiondojo.com).
Causes of World War I
Historians analyze alliances, nationalism, imperialism, and decision-making to explain the outbreak—without reducing cause to a single factor.
- Use focused, question-based investigation strategies from “10 Expert Tips to Choose a Focused and Clear History IA Research Question (2025 Guide)” (revisiondojo.com).
Examples of Scientific Explanation
Newton’s Laws of Motion
Scientific explanations rely on mathematics and empirical testing—force, mass, motion relationships that hold across contexts.
- The TOK article outlines how natural sciences use empirical methods to explain phenomena via testable laws (revisiondojo.com).
The Theory of Evolution
The explanation involves genetic variation, natural selection, and environmental adaptation—validated through observation and experiment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can historians ever use scientific methods to explain events?
A1: Yes—historians sometimes apply quantitative techniques, like using statistics in cliometrics. But their aim remains contextual and interpretive.
Q2: Do scientific explanations require context like historical explanations?
A2: Scientific explanations generally prioritize generalizability, though real-world application may consider context (e.g., medical trials).
Q3: Why is historical explanation sometimes judged as less rigorous?
A3: Because history allows multiple narrative interpretations rather than one reproducible law. Its rigor lies in evidence-based argumentation.
Q4: Are there overlapping fields where both historians and scientists explain the same phenomenon?
A4: Yes—areas like environmental history or climate modeling blend data-driven analysis with historical narrative.
Q5: Which type of explanation is more useful?
A5: Both serve different aims—science offers predictive models, history offers understanding of context and meaning. They complement rather than replace each other.
Q6: How can students practice both types of explanation for IB TOK?
A6: Use TOK frameworks from RevisionDojo like question banks and guides to compare explanatory approaches across AOKs and WOKs (revisiondojo.com, revisiondojo.com).
Conclusion: Why These Differences Matter
Though both disciplines “explain,” the meaning varies greatly. Natural scientists use "explain" to mean uncovering universal, reproducible laws through empirical evidence. Historians use it to interpret human choices, motives, and events within their cultural and temporal contexts. Recognizing this distinction deepens our appreciation of how knowledge is constructed differently across fields.
Call to Action 🚀
Ready to sharpen your explanatory skills across disciplines? RevisionDojo offers:
- ✅ TOK guides comparing History and Natural Sciences explanations.
- ✅ Q‑banks and study tools tailored to IB assessments.
- ✅ Interactive resources and practice prompts to practice both interpretive and empirical reasoning.
👉 Visit RevisionDojo, explore our tools, and subscribe for weekly articles that connect disciplines through deeper analysis.
