Mechanisms in Science

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.