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Full Idea
Causation can be analyzed in terms of mechanisms because (except for fundamental causal interactions) causally related events will be connected by intervening mechanisms.
Gist of Idea
Since causal events are related by mechanisms, causation can be analysed in that way
Source
Stuart Glennan (Mechanisms [2008], 'causation')
Book Ref
'Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Science', ed/tr. Psillos,S/Curd,M [Routledge 2010], p.381
A Reaction
This won't give us the metaphysics of causation (which concerns the fundamentals), but this strikes me as a very coherent and interesting proposal. He mentions electron interaction as non-mechanistic causation.
Related Idea
Idea 17493 Modern mechanism need parts with spatial, temporal and function facts, and diagrams [Glennan]
| 17494 | Since causal events are related by mechanisms, causation can be analysed in that way [Glennan] |
| 17493 | Modern mechanism need parts with spatial, temporal and function facts, and diagrams [Glennan] |
| 17487 | Mechanistic philosophy of science is an alternative to the empiricist law-based tradition [Glennan] |
| 17489 | Mechanisms are either systems of parts or sequences of activities [Glennan] |
| 17490 | 17th century mechanists explained everything by the kinetic physical fundamentals [Glennan] |
| 17488 | Empiricist theories are sets of laws, which give explanations and reductions [Glennan] |
| 17491 | Unlike the lawlike approach, mechanistic explanation can allow for exceptions [Glennan] |