mechanistisch

Mechanistisch is a term used to describe explanations or approaches that interpret phenomena in terms of mechanical parts and their interactions. In a mechanistisch account, a system is explained by identifying the components and the causal mechanisms by which they affect one another, analogous to how a machine operates.

In the life sciences, mechanistisch explanations model biological processes as interactions among molecules, cells, tissues, and organs. They have played a central role in physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology, linking observed functions to underlying mechanisms such as enzymatic activity, ion transport, and signaling cascades. Mechanistic reasoning is often associated with reductionism, aiming to explain higher-level phenomena by detailing lower-level processes.

In philosophy of science and in some social sciences, mechanism-based explanations seek to identify the causal mechanisms that connect causes to effects. This mechanistic stance is frequently contrasted with holistic, teleological, or emergent accounts. Critics argue that strict mechanistic explanations can overlook context, historical contingency, and emergent properties that arise from complex interactions.

Etymology and usage: mechanistisch derives from Greek mechanē and Latin mechanicus, and has been used since the early modern period to distinguish machine-like explanations from vitalist or purposive accounts; in English, the related form mechanistic is common.