These terms just mean different things. Very often, it's relatively easy to find a phenomenological model capable of performing quite good predictions. But, in

These terms just mean different things. Very often, it's relatively easy to find a phenomenological model capable of performing quite good predictions. But, in order to find a physical model that can be broadly applied, we need to understand what is going on at a fundamental level. At least in my field (mechanical and materials engineering), understanding means explaining in basis to well established fundamental laws, a prediction is not enough.