Single Idea 15317

[catalogued under 14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / i. Explanations by mechanism]

Full Idea

Usually in science the powers/natures formula does lead to the imagining of hypothetical mechanisms which might be discovered to be real.

Gist of Idea

Powers and natures lead us to hypothesise underlying mechanisms, which may be real

Source

Harré,R./Madden,E.H. (Causal Powers [1975], 9.III)

Book Reference

Harré,R/Madden,E.H.: 'Causal Powers: A Theory of Natural Necessity' [Blackwell 1975], p.177


A Reaction

The underlying mechanism is what I take Aristotle to have proposed, and it is the instinctive explanation by children (charted by Susan Gelman).