mostrar vs. demostrar

Question

"Mientras la exposición se limita a mostrar, la argumentación intenta demostrar."

demostrar.

(Del lat. demonstr?re).

1. tr. Manifestar, declarar.

2. tr. Probar, sirviéndose de cualquier género de demostración.

3. tr. enseñar (? mostrar o exponer algo).

4. tr. Fil. Mostrar, hacer ver que una verdad particular está comprendida en otra universal, de la que se tiene entera certeza.

--

mostrar.

(Del lat. monstr?re).

1. tr. Manifestar o poner a la vista algo; enseñarlo o señalarlo para que se vea.

2. tr. Explicar, dar a conocer algo o convencer de su certidumbre.

3. tr. Hacer patente un afecto real o simulado.

4. tr. Dar a entender o conocer con las acciones una calidad del ánimo. Mostrar valor, liberalidad.

5. prnl. Dicho de una persona: Portarse de cierta manera, o darse a conocer en algún sentido. Mostrarse amigo, príncipe.

--

Therefore all this means:

demostrar is something like :to prove , and mostrar is to show and explain or am I getting this wrong?

Thanks.

Demostrar can also mean show--a lot of the time, the two words mean the same thing. - lorenzo9, Jan 22, 2011

Then the sentence would be meaningless, but I think it's not. - culé, Jan 22, 2011

Answer 1

I think the dictionary does not give full account of the use the author of text gave to the phrase you put as example.

The author implies that there is a difference between saying somehing (mostrar) as a result, and accounting for what is said (demostrar) with arguments and a series of hypothesis, thesis and synthesis , which is the traditional basis for philosophic texts.

This is not a sentence from a philosophic text, it's a definiton for textos argumentativos. - culé, Jan 23, 2011

Ok, I think it´s the same principle. In an argumentative essay you have to present an idea and then develop the argumentative text for or against it. On the other hand, in a reflective essay you can just mostrar your point of view or feelings - mediterrunio, Jan 23, 2011

Answer 2

You did a great job researching the differences between these two words in Spanish.

thanks ;)) - culé, Jan 22, 2011

Answer 3

"Mientras la exposición se limita a mostrar, la argumentación intenta demostrar."

I'd go for something like this. By the way the word "demonstrators" as used here has nothing to do with demostrar It means the exhibitors.

"While the exhibition itself simply displayed goods the demonstrators tried to persuade and instruct."

Something like that. I'm thinking mostrar is just to display here while demostrar carries a quality of "to instruct" "to explain"

Mmmm which "demonstrators" exactly? - culé, Jan 22, 2011

exposición: explanation / These are text types. It's the expository text type method and the argumentative text type method which this sentence is about. - culé, Jan 22, 2011

Then the sentence disagrees with the accepted definitions of these terms in English. - lorenzo9, Jan 23, 2011