Full Idea
To give a description of a mechanism for a phenomenon is to explain that phenomenon, i.e. to explain how it was produced.
Gist of Idea
A mechanism explains a phenomenon by showing how it was produced
Source
Machamer,P/Darden,L/Craver,C (Thinking About Mechanisms [2000], 1)
Book Reference
-: 'Philosophy of Science' [-], p.3
A Reaction
To 'show how' something happens needs a bit of precisification. It is probably analytic that 'showing how' means 'revealing the mechanism', though 'mechanism' then becomes the tricky concept.