0000000000087683
AUTHOR
Saúl Pérez González
showing 2 related works from this author
Assessing the role of evidence of mechanisms in causal extrapolation
2020
Extrapolation of causal claims from study populations to other populations of interest is a problematic issue. The standard approach in experimental research, which prioritises randomized controlled trials and statistical evidence, is not devoid of difficulties. Granted that, it has been defended that evidence of mechanisms is indispensable for causal extrapolation. We argue, contrarily, that this sort of evidence is not indispensable. Nonetheless, we also think that occasionally it may be helpful. In order to clarify its relevance, we introduce a distinction between a positive and a negative role of evidence of mechanisms. Our conclusion is that the former is highly questionable, but the l…
Mechanisms and Scientific Methodology: Strengths and Weaknesses of the New Mechanical Philosophy
2020
El objetivo de esta tesis es analizar la nueva filosofía mecanicista y discutir sus principales fortalezas y debilidades. La nueva filosofía mecanicista, que surgió entre finales de la década de 1980 y principios de la década de 1990, es tanto una filosofía de la ciencia como una filosofía de la naturaleza. No solo se interesa por la metodología científica, sino también por la constitución y organización del mundo. La tesis se compone de cuatro artículos: “The Search for Generality in the Notion of Mechanism”, “Evolutionary causes as mechanisms: a critical analysis”, “Mechanistic explanations and components of social mechanisms” y “Mechanisms and science denialism: explaining the global lun…