Mechanisms in Science
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Mechanisms in Science: Method or Metaphysics?

Mechanisms in Science: Method or Metaphysics?


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About the Book

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.

Table of Contents:
Introduction; Part I. Ideas of Mechanism: 1. Mechanisms, Then and Now; 2: Extending Mechanism Beyond the two 'Most Catholic Principles of Bodies; Part II. Causation and Mechanism: 3. Mechanisms in Scientific Practice: the Case of Apoptosis; 4. Mechanisms as Causal Pathways; 5: Mechanisms, Causation and Laws; 6: Against Activities; 7: Whither Counterfactuals?; Part III. Beyond New Mechanism: 8. Constitution vs Causation; 9. Multilevel Mechanistic Explanation; 10: Methodological Mechanism.

About the Author :
Stavros Ioannidis is Assistant Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. He is principal investigator of the project MECHANISM, funded by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation. Stathis Psillos is Professor of Philosophy of Science and Metaphysics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. He is the author of Scientific Realism: How Science Tracks Truth (1999) and Causation and Explanation (2002), and editor (with Henrik Lagerlund and Ben Hill) of Reconsidering Causal Powers (2021).

Review :
'As the 'New mechanical philosophy' grows bigger by the day, it is very difficult to make a significant contribution to the field. But this book is an extremely well researched, timely, and interesting piece of work. It offers compelling (philosophical and historical) arguments for the idea that mechanisms in science are to be understood as a methodological stance, which no doubt will spark debate in philosophy of science.' Federica Russo, University of Amsterdam 'Ioannidis and Psillos provide comprehensive arguments for taking a deflationary or metaphysically neutral approach to understanding mechanism, especially in biology … Highly recommended.' J. A. Hewlett, Choice 'Mechanisms in Science is a must-read for those interested in mechanisms, and I think it promises to shake up several discussions about mechanisms that have grown stale.' Kareem Khalifa, Metascience


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Product Details
  • ISBN-13: 9781316519905
  • Publisher: Cambridge University Press
  • Publisher Imprint: Cambridge University Press
  • Height: 235 mm
  • No of Pages: 250
  • Returnable: N
  • Spine Width: 22 mm
  • Weight: 564 gr
  • ISBN-10: 1316519902
  • Publisher Date: 23 Jun 2022
  • Binding: Hardback
  • Language: English
  • Returnable: N
  • Returnable: N
  • Sub Title: Method or Metaphysics?
  • Width: 157 mm


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