Abstract
AbstractIn a recent book and an article, Carl Craver construes the relations between different levels of a mechanism, which he also refers to as constitutive relations, in terms of means of mutual manipulability (MM). Interpreted metaphysically, MM implies that inter-level relations are symmetrical. But in that case MM violates one of the main desiderata of scientific explanation, namely explanatory asymmetry. Parts of Craver’s writings suggest a metaphysical interpretation of MM, and Craver explicitly commits to constitutive relationships being symmetrical. Other parts of Craver’s writings suggest an epistemological reading. If interpreted in this way, however, namely as a means for individuating mechanisms, MM is arguably redundant.KeywordsConstitutive RelationCausal RelationMechanistic ExplanationConstitutive RelationshipMechanistic AccountThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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