Strategies for Discovering Mechanisms: Schema Instantiation, Modular Subassembly, Forward/Backward Chaining
Abstract
Discovery proceeds in stages of construction, evaluation, and revision. Each of these stages is constrained by what is known or conjectured about what is being discovered. A new characterization of mechanism aids in specifying what is to be discovered when a mechanism is sought. Guidance in discovering mechanisms may be provided by the reasoning strategies of schema instantiation, modular subassembly, and forward/backward chaining. Examples are found in mechanisms in molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, and evolutionary biology.
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Cites
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Gerring, J. (2010) · Comparative Political Studies · doi:10.1177/0010414010376911 · Cited by 279 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Darden, L.
- Affiliations
- University of Maryland, College Park (US)
- Corresponding author
- Darden, Lindley
- ORCID
- Darden, Lindley
- Venue
- Philosophy of Science
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2002-09
- Volume
- 69
- Issue
- S3
- Pages
- S354-S365
- ISSN
- 0031-8248 (ISSN-L)
- 1539-767X
- OpenAlex
- W2000277421
- Cited by
- 164
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 21.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Philosophy of Science (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy and History of Science
- Social Sciences › Education › Science Education and Pedagogy
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy, Science, and History
- Keywords
- mechanism discovery, forward chaining, backward chaining, reasoning strategies, scientific discovery
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