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Single Idea 16557

[from 'Causality and Explanation' by Wesley Salmon, in 14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / i. Explanations by mechanism ]

Full Idea

For Salmon mechanisms are composed of processes and interactions. The interactions are identified in terms of transmitted marks and statistical relations, or (more recently) exchanges of conserved quantities.

Gist of Idea

Salmon's mechanisms are processes and interactions, involving marks, or conserved quantities

Source

report of Wesley Salmon (Causality and Explanation [1998], 3.1) by Machamer,P/Darden,L/Craver,C - Thinking About Mechanisms 3.1

Book Reference

-: 'Philosophy of Science' [-], p.7


A Reaction

They say that Salmon has too little to say about the activities that constitute a mechanism. A 'mark' doesn't sound too promising, but I quite like the exchange of conserved quantities, which gets into the guts of what is going on.