Full Idea
Mechanisms are entities and activities organized such that they are productive of regular change from start or set-up to finish or termination conditions.
Gist of Idea
Mechanisms are systems organised to produce regular change
Source
Machamer,P/Darden,L/Craver,C (Thinking About Mechanisms [2000], 1)
Book Reference
-: 'Philosophy of Science' [-], p.3
A Reaction
This is their initial formal definition of a mechanism. Note that a mere 'activity' can be included. Presumably the mechanism might have an outcome that was not the intended outcome. Does a random element disqualify it? Are hands mechanisms?