explication

Explication is a term used in literary criticism and philosophy to describe the process of clarifying meaning through detailed analysis or reformulation. The word derives from the Latin explicatio, meaning unfolding or explanation. In general use, explication denotes making something explicit and interpretable, often through systematic examination of form, language, or concepts.

In literary criticism, explication de texte (a traditional French practice) is a method of close reading that aims to reveal how a text communicates its meanings. Practitioners analyze diction, syntax, imagery, symbolism, tone, rhythm, and structure, situating these features within the work’s historical and cultural context. The goal is to produce a coherent interpretation supported by textual evidence, highlighting how form and content together generate significance rather than recounting external facts about the author or era alone.

In philosophy and logic, explication refers to the deliberate replacement of a vague or ambiguous natural-language term with a more precise and useful counterpart. Associated with Rudolf Carnap, explication seeks conceptual clarity and methodological usefulness, subject to criteria such as adequacy, exactness, simplicity, and fruitfulness for theoretical work. This sense is not primarily about causal explanation but about refining concepts to support rigorous argumentation and analysis.

Explication is often contrasted with explanation in everyday use and in the sciences, where explanation tends to account for why something occurs. Explication focuses on clarifying or reformulating terms and ideas to enable clearer understanding and subsequent analysis. See also explication de texte, close reading, and conceptual analysis.