Mechanisms in Science (eBook)

Method or Metaphysics?

Stavros Ioannidis, Stathis Psillos (Autoren)

eBook Download: PDF

2022
Cambridge University Press (Verlag)
978-1-009-02268-2 (ISBN)

Infos

In recent years what has come to be called the ''New Mechanism'' has emerged as a framework for thinking about the philosophical assumptions underlying many areas of science, especially in sciences such as biology, neuroscience, and psychology. This book offers a fresh look at the role of mechanisms, by situating novel analyses of central philosophical issues related to mechanisms within a rich historical perspective of the concept of mechanism as well as detailed case studies of biological mechanisms (such as apoptosis). It develops a new position, Methodological Mechanism, according to which mechanisms are to be viewed as causal pathways that are theoretically described and are underpinned by networks of difference-making relations. In contrast to metaphysically inflated accounts, this study characterises mechanism as a concept-in-use in science that is deflationary and metaphysically neutral, but still methodologically useful and central to scientific practice.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 23.6.2022
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Allgemeines / Lexika
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Metaphysik / Ontologie
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften
• ISBN-10: 1-009-02268-7 / 1009022687
• ISBN-13: 978-1-009-02268-2 / 9781009022682