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Single Idea 16563

[from 'Thinking About Mechanisms' by Machamer,P/Darden,L/Craver,C, in 14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / e. Lawlike explanations ]

Full Idea

It is not regularities that explain but the activities that sustain the regularities.

Gist of Idea

The explanation is not the regularity, but the activity sustaining it

Source

Machamer,P/Darden,L/Craver,C (Thinking About Mechanisms [2000], 7)

Book Reference

-: 'Philosophy of Science' [-], p.22


A Reaction

Good, but we had better not characterise the 'activities' in terms of regularities.