The Ontology of Mechanisms

2019/01/01 by Isaac Wilhelm · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · #Philosophy and History of Science

paper · doi:10.5840/jphil20191161139

Abstract

I propose a metaphysical theory of mechanisms based on the notion of causation. In particular, I use causation to formulate existence, identity, and parthood conditions for mechanisms. These conditions provide a sound metaphysical basis for accounts of mechanistic explanation, mechanistic organization, and for more restrictive theories of mechanisms.

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• Explanation grounds causation

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