Mechanisms and the nature of causation
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“Mechanisms Mechanistic evidence can strengthen causal inference; indeed, some argue that causality cannot be established until a mechanism is identified (Glennan, 1996; Russo & Williamson, 2007).”
BackgroundSelecting Appropriate Cases When Tracing Causal Mechanisms
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“An effect is sometimes produced by a complex combination of causes and the point of research is then understanding what these causes are, what their role in the combination (or causal ‘package’) is, and eventually gaining insight on how these factors are combined in the causal mechanism (Glennan 1996).”
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Glennan, S.
- Venue
- Erkenntnis
- Published
- 1996-01
- Volume
- 44
- Issue
- 1
- ISSN
- 0165-0106 (ISSN-L)
- 1572-8420
- OpenAlex
- W2011926036
- Cited by
- 894
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 23 · 2025: 58 · 2024: 44 · 2023: 34 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 49 · 2019: 66 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 43 · 2016: 40 · 2015: 41 · 2014: 33 · 2013: 54 · 2012: 34
- FWCI
- 19.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Erkenntnis (publishedVersion)
- Digital Commons @ Butler University (Butler University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy and History of Science
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy, Science, and History
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Bayesian Modeling and Causal Inference
- Keywords
- causality, mechanisms, complex systems, necessity, laws of nature, explanation, generalization
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