2006-11-23 10:40:47 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
An excuse is a justification an explanation is just the reason why you did or didn't do something whether it is right or wrong.
2006-11-23 10:48:50 · answer #1 · answered by Barry DaLive 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Excuse: to offer an apology for; seek to remove the blame of: He excused his absence by saying that he was ill.
Explanation: something that explains; a statement made to clarify something and make it understandable; exposition: an explanation of a poem.
An example: You missed work because you were ill & and you talk to your boss the next day.
Explanation: I was away sick yesterday, sorry I couldn't get in to work.
Excuse: I didn't finish the report yesterday because I was sick.
An explanation is the reasoning behind an action you took, such as not coming into work. An excuse is a statement in which you remove the blame from yourself and place it on another person or cause.
Although sometime they can be the same they are not always. And the biggest difference is the fact that an explanation is true (by definition) where as an excuse can be a lie.
2006-11-23 18:53:11 · answer #2 · answered by Ted 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Very little, unless you qualify your explanation by taking responsibility for some of the mistake. " I was late to school today, it is my fault, but I will say in my defense a train took a little longer to pass by the station crossing, but I will leave earlier next time now that I know that this could happen." That is an explanation with a supportive reason. Explanations promote reasons. Excuses are alibis. Like a note from Mom. That might be a legitimate excuse, but it still does not give you any responsibility.
2006-11-23 18:58:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
An explanation seems to be any statement meant to describe how or why an event or system of events occurs.
An excuse seems to imply something more. An excuse is also used to explain why or how an event or system of events occurs, but it describes a state of events which should allow a particular action not usually taken.
An example of an excuse: I was late for work because of traffic on the freeway the other day. (true story!) Now, I am required to be to work at a certain time, and normally I should not be allowed to be late, but in this case I am saying I should be allowed to be late without fear or repercussion, because the traffic created a state of events beyond what is ordinarily assumed.
Hope that helps. :)
2006-11-23 19:34:12 · answer #4 · answered by Todd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The excuse requires the explanation to validate its validity. An explanation is not always the basis of an excuse, but a stand alone explanation.
2006-11-23 22:35:13 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An excuse does just that...it generally excuses you from whatever you are responsible to because of something usually out of your control. There are excuses for things, but not many. An explanation can be valid or not; it just tells one (explains) what ever the situation is.
2006-11-23 18:50:31 · answer #6 · answered by hopflower 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not all excuses explain. Often they are fallacious appeals to pity etc.
Some excuses do explain, such that the rule does not apply in the particular case given exigent factors.
Not all explanations are excuses.. most have nothing to do with deferring responsibility of the subject in question. They (mostly) give the identity conditions for an object of study, which can be starkly amoral in character.
2006-11-23 21:09:23 · answer #7 · answered by -.- 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You make up an excuse AFTER WARDS to cover up your mistake, while the reason / explanation happened to you BEFORE you made the mistake.
Sure sometimes you plan your excuses ahead, but you don't decide ahead, you at least decide to commit the mistake then try to make up an excuse.
You make the excuse, the reason makes you!
2006-11-23 19:30:16 · answer #8 · answered by mtoi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An excuse is something you make up to get you out of a difficult situation, etc.
An explanation is when you need to clarify matters and to justify your actions.
2006-11-23 21:22:04 · answer #9 · answered by ViRg() 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An excuse is trying to justify why you did something, an explanation is stating facts rather than falsehoods.
2006-11-24 13:44:50 · answer #10 · answered by Engel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋