Prescription Vs Description: Practical Understanding Of What Really Is

Prescription is what the world should be like. Description is what the world actually is like. They are both representations of reality. Descriptions teach us and give us room to expand. Whereas prescriptions can be limiting. Descriptive statements acknowledge the existence of something, whilst prescriptive ones shape what the existence of something ought to be. We run into problems when we see descriptive things as prescriptive, and vice versa.

The concepts of prescription and description are philosophical and lingual. In essence, prescriptions are guidance, recommendation, or rules about what should happen. It’s normative. Description refers to the portrayal of what is. It’s factual, focusing on what things are. “You should eat more vegetables to be healthy.” is a prescription, an actionable piece of advice. “Vegetables are rich in nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber.” is a description, an observation of reality. Prescriptions give you actionable steps, whilst descriptions make you aware.

Understanding the difference helps clarify our thought processes and improve decision-making. It is particularly useful in communication. What’s crucial is we don’t make the descriptive fallacy. Just because something is, does not mean it should be, and vice versa. For example, describing that humans eat meat does not necessarily justify they should. Or, just because war has always happened, does not mean it is acceptable, desirable, or wanted. Things change. Use prescriptions to provide guidance or direction; to help somebody take action or change. Use descriptions to offer information or understanding; to add to somebody’s awareness or knowledge.

Real life implications of prescriptions versus descriptions:

• Science: it primarily focuses on describing phenomena through observation and experimentation—”Climate change is causing a rise in global temperatures.”—and, based on findings, it can prescribe actionable takeaways—”We should reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate climate change.”;

• Ethics: typically describes human behavior and societal norms—”Most societies prohibit theft.”—and prescribes moral codes or ethical actions—”You should not steal because it harms others.”;

• Business: descriptions are analyses of market conditions, consumer actions, and financial trends—”Inflation rates have increased by five percent.”—whilst prescriptions are bits of advice based on the analyses—”Businesses should adjust prices to maintain sufficient profit margins.”;

• Medicine: medical conditions are diagnosed and analyzed—”The patient has high blood pressure.”—and the reports result in recommendations or treatments for the patient—”The patient should reduce their ultra-processed food intake and exercise regularly.”;

• Education: clear descriptions and/or explanations of concepts or facts are the core of education—”Gravity pulls objects toward the Earth.”—and prescriptions guide students in applying the concepts—”Practice solving physics problems to understand gravity better.”

How you might use prescriptions versus descriptions as a mental model: (1) separate the two, identifying whether a statement is descriptive or prescriptive before acting on it, such as evaluating people’s statements as facts or suggestions; (2) bridge the gap, reasoning to connect description to prescription, “Climate change is accelerating; therefore, it makes sense to reduce emissions because of long-term consequences.”; (3) be contextual, ensuring prescriptions are appropriate for the context of the description, since recommendations for one person (-s) might not suit another due to differing conditions; (4) clarify intentions, explicitly stating whether you are describing a situation or recommending action, particularly when communicating.

Thought-provoking insights. “Don’t confuse the map with the territory.” reminds us that understanding reality, the description, is different from navigating it, the prescription. “Knowing what is does not tell you what to do.” highlights the is-should-be dichotomy in decision-making. Being aware of this distinction is vital for thinking clearly and communicating ideas effectively. Know that understanding a concept and knowing how to act on it are two different things. A good rule of thumb: avoid prescribing before you can describe.