Published September 2002
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Journal Article
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What Is a Mechanism? A Counterfactual Account
- Creators
- Woodward, Jim
Abstract
This paper presents a counterfactual account of what a mechanism is. Mechanisms consist of parts, the behavior of which conforms to generalizations that are invariant under interventions, and which are modular in the sense that it is possible in principle to change the behavior of one part independently of the others. Each of these features can be captured by the truth of certain counterfactuals.
Additional Information
© 2002 Philosophy of Science Association. Thanks to my co-symposiasts Lindley Darden and Stuart Glennan for helpful comments.Attached Files
Published - WOOpos02.pdf
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WOOpos02.pdf
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- Eprint ID
- 27728
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20111110-092512507
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2011-11-10Created from EPrint's datestamp field
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