Thinking about Mechanisms
Abstract
The concept of mechanism is analyzed in terms of entities and activities, organized such that they are productive of regular changes. Examples show how mechanisms work in neurobiology and molecular biology. Thinking in terms of mechanisms provides a new framework for addressing many traditional philosophical issues: causality, laws, explanation, reduction, and scientific change.
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A missing arrow, i.e., inability to specify an activity connecting A and B, leaves an explanatory gap in the productive continuity of the mechanism.
“A missing arrow, namely, the inability to specify an activity connecting A and B, leaves an explanatory gap in the productive continuity of the mechanism (Machamer , Darden and Craver, 2000: 3).”
From It's all about mechanisms – what process-tracing case studies should be tracing (2016) · cites this paper as Machamer, Darden and Craver, 2000
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- Authors
- Machamer, P., Darden, L., & Craver, C. F.
- Affiliations
- University of Pittsburgh (US)
- Florida International University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Machamer, Peter
- Venue
- Philosophy of Science
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2000-03
- Volume
- 67
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-25
- ISSN
- 0031-8248 (ISSN-L)
- 1539-767X
- OpenAlex
- W2049696674
- Cited by
- 3,179
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 130 · 2025: 207 · 2024: 177 · 2023: 183 · 2022: 204 · 2021: 134 · 2020: 174 · 2019: 278 · 2018: 154 · 2017: 164 · 2016: 140 · 2015: 158 · 2014: 149 · 2013: 176 · 2012: 112
- FWCI
- 100.70
- 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 › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy, Science, and History
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Philosophy and Theoretical Science
- Keywords
- mechanisms, mechanistic explanation, causality, laws of nature, reduction, scientific change, neurobiology, philosophy of biology
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