Full Idea
A nomothetic explanation appeals to laws where the explanandum is shown to be an instance of a general law. ...The alternative is a structural explanation, which postulates a mechanism, opening up a hidden world.
Clarification
The 'explanandum' is the thing to be explained
Gist of Idea
Nomothetic explanations cite laws, and structural explanations cite mechanisms
Source
Stephen Mumford (Dispositions [1998], 06.4)
Book Reference
Mumford,Stephen: 'Dispositions' [OUP 1998], p.130
A Reaction
[He cites E.McMullin 1978] I am very much in favour of structural explanations, and opposed to nomothetic ones. That is, nomothetic accounts are only the first step towards an explanation - perhaps a mere identification of the explanandum.
Related Idea
Idea 14320 Subatomic particles may terminate explanation, if they lack structure [Mumford]