In order to have a dialogue with other people is important to comprehend the difference between various words like understand, comprehend, agree and justify.
In the book Creiamo cultura insieme is reported that:
- understand (capire in italian) means to know the meaning of the words said by the other people.
- comprehend (comprendere in italian) means to really grasp the sense of something that it has been said or done.
- agree (condividere in italian) means to agree with what it has been said or done.
- justify (giustificare in italian) means considering someone not guilty and excusing their behaviour.
For example I may understand that during the nazism, racial laws and propaganda were used to disseminate nazi ideology. I understand the meaning of the words.
I comprehend that nazi propaganda was designed to manipulate and radicalise population. I comprehend that the historical and social context contribute to disseminate nazi ideology and its acceptance by many people.
I do not agree nazi ideas and actions. I do not agree with the values and politics of the nazism.
I do not justify the actions of the nazi leaders and the nazis. Although I comprehend the actions in that particular historical and social context, I absolutely do not justify the violence and atrocity commited.