How and Why: Rethinking Scientific Explanation

We often talk about science as if it were a purely logical enterprise. Yet, the way we ask questions—and even the kind of questions we think matter—is shaped by something far older than the scientific method: the architecture of our brains. Whether we lean toward “how” or “why” reflects not only cognitive habits but cultural values, emotional instincts, and the stories we tell about knowledge itself. Understanding this split may help explain why scientific communication so often falters in the space between data and meaning.