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Mechanistic Causation and Constraints: Perspectival Parts and Powers, Non-Perspectival Modal Patterns

Winning, Jason (2018) Mechanistic Causation and Constraints: Perspectival Parts and Powers, Non-Perspectival Modal Patterns. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science. ISSN 1464-3537

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Abstract

Any successful account of the metaphysics of mechanistic causation must satisfy at least five key desiderata. In this paper, I lay out these five desiderata and explain why existing accounts of the metaphysics of mechanistic causation fail to satisfy them. I then present an alternative account which does satisfy the five desiderata. According to this alternative account, we must resort to a type of ontological entity that is new to metaphysics, but not to science: constraints. In this paper, I explain how a constraints-based metaphysics fits best with the emerging consensus on the nature of mechanistic explanation.


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Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Winning, Jasonjason.winning@gmail.com0000-0002-9871-2684
Keywords: Constraints, Causal Powers, Mechanistic Causation, Structural Realism, Classical Mechanics, Mechanistic Explanation
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
Specific Sciences > Biology
General Issues > Causation
Specific Sciences > Complex Systems
Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics
General Issues > Explanation
General Issues > Laws of Nature
General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Depositing User: Jason Winning
Date Deposited: 04 Sep 2018 23:42
Last Modified: 04 Sep 2018 23:42
Item ID: 15002
Journal or Publication Title: British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjps/axy042
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1093/bjps/axy042
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
Specific Sciences > Biology
General Issues > Causation
Specific Sciences > Complex Systems
Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics
General Issues > Explanation
General Issues > Laws of Nature
General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Date: 2018
ISSN: 1464-3537
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/15002

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