What/How/Why Definitions

Reading academic material in a field you might not be familiar with is always an exercise in deciphering jargon or rethinking the new use of seemingly familiar words. One strategy for thinking about new words or concepts is to construct a "What/How/Why" definition. Start with the dictionary definition of the word or other definitions that you are familiar with from your own experience. That's the "What." (Suggestion: Follow the trails of any other words that seem important for understanding the original word.)Then ask yourself "How?" How do we use this word? How does the author use this word? How do we do the action suggested by this word? How does it happen; how should it happen? Finally, reflect on the "Why", or the significance of this concept. Why is it important? Why should we take it seriously?

The following is an example of a "What/How/Why" definition:

Cosmology

WHAT: "1. A branch of metaphysics that deals with the nature of the universe 2 : a branch of astronomy that deals with the origin, structure, and space-time relationships of the universe" Definitions of related words:

Cosmos-- "1. a) an orderly harmonious systematic universe--compare chaos b) order, harmony 2. a complex orderly self-inclusive system"

Chaos-- "1 : chasm, abyss 2 a : a state of things in which chance is supreme; esp : the distinct foms -- compare cosmos b : a state of utter confusion."

HOW: through observation of the world and its phenomena which lead then to theories that explain why/how things work; theories can be "scientific" or in the form of myth/story/art; theories construct the world cosmologically--they put together the observed phenomena in a particular way, but then become "naturalized" and appear as if they are themselves observable fact/true/absolute.

WHY: to prevent chaos; because we seem to need an "orderly self- inclusive system" to protect from anomie, meaninglessness. [Or is even this observation the product of our cosmologies that explain the why in terms of what we think we need!?]

[Anomie -- "social instability reslting from a breakdown of standards and values; also : personal unrest, alientation and uncertainty that comes from a lack of purpose or ideals."]