Deconstructing Explanation by Mechanism

Critical realism and analytic sociology support what can be called explanation by mechanism (EbM). EbM consists of three distinct theses. The elaboration thesis says that mere observation of interdependencies cannot be considered a full explanation because it does not give a description of how the proposed causal connection comes about. The mechanism thesis claims that elaboration must contain an account of the generative/causal mechanism at work. The actionalism thesis cannot be placed within all versions of EbM because it states that an account of a mechanism should describe (1) the situation of the agents and (2) the actions the agents undertake on the basis of their situation. The paper argues that both the elaboration thesis and the actionalism thesis are of crucial importance. However, elaboration should not be equated only with an account of mechanism(s) because a 'theory' of the agent (agent-image) and an account of the relevant context(s) are needed

Context (archaeology · Elaboration · Epistemology · Generative grammar · Interdependence · Mechanism (biology · Social science · Sociology · Computer Science · Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice · Critical Realism in Sociology · Economic Theory and Institutions · Philosophy · Artificial Intelligence

• Housing recovery outcomes after typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines

  Open Access•Ivette Arroyo, Johnny Åstrand•Journal of Critical Realism•2019

  Incluir item

• Autonomy, democracy and solidarity. The defining principles of collaborative civil society housing and some mechanisms that may challenge them

  Jardar Sørvoll, Bo Bengtsson•Urban Research & Practice•2020

  Incluir item

• Theory of Housing, From Housing, About Housing

  Open Access•Hannu Ruonavaara•Housing Theory and Society•2017

  Incluir item

• The great social housing trade-off. ‘Insiders’ and ‘outsiders’ in urban social rental housing in Norway

  Open Access•Jardar Sørvoll•Housing Studies•2024

  Incluir item

• Comparative Process Tracing

  Open Access•Bo Bengtsson, Hannu Ruonavaara•Philosophy of the Social Sciences•2017

  Incluir item

• Context in Mechanism-Based Explanation

  Open Access•Gianluca Pozzoni, Tuukka Kaidesoja•Philosophy of the Social Sciences•2021

  Incluir item

• When Business Breaks the Rules

  Open Access•Nicholas Lord, Michael Levi•Regulation & Governance•2025

  Incluir item

• Moral regulation as status politics

  Open Access•Hannu Ruonavaara•Journal of Classical Sociology•2022

  Incluir item

• A poetic for sociology

  Richard Harvey Brown•A poetic for sociology•1977

  Incluir item

• Symbolic crusade

  Joseph R Gusfield•Symbolic crusade•1980

  Incluir item

• The Logic of Evil

  Open Access•William Brustein•Logic of Evil•1996

  Incluir item

• A Realist Philosophy of Social Science

  Open Access•Peter T Manicas•Realist Philosophy of Social…•2006

  Incluir item

• Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences

  Open Access•Jon Elster•Nuts and Bolts for the Social…•1989

  Incluir item

• Political Psychology

  Open Access•Jon Elster•Political Psychology•1993

  Incluir item

• The Principles of Scientific Thinking

  Open Access•Rom Harré•The Principles of Scientific…•1970

  Incluir item

• Method in Social Science

  Andrew Sayer, R Andrew Sayer•Method in Social Science•1984

  Incluir item

• A plea for mechanisms

  Open Access•Jon Elster•Social Mechanisms•1998

  Incluir item

• Social “Mechanisms” And Comparative-Historical Sociology

  Philip S Gorski, Philip Gorski•2009

  Incluir item

• The Oxford Handbook of Analytical Sociology

  Peter Bearman, Peter Hedström•The Oxford handbook of analytical…•2011

  Incluir item

• The Possibility of Naturalism

  Roy Bhaskar•Possibility of Naturalism•2013

  Incluir item

• Dissecting the Social

  Open Access•Peter Hedström•Dissecting the social•2005

  Incluir item

• Solving the Tenants? Dilemma

  Bo Bengtsson•Housing Theory and Society•2000

  Incluir item

• Constructionism, Realism and Housing Theory

  Peter Somerville, Bo Bengtsson•Housing Theory and Society•2002

  Incluir item

• Tenants' Dilemma- On Collective Action in Housing

  Bo Bengtsson•Housing Studies•1998

  Incluir item

• Dynamic models of segregation

  Thomas C Schelling•Journal of Mathematical Sociology•1971

  Incluir item

• Anxiety and Social Explanation

  Alan Hunt•Journal of Social History•1999

  Incluir item

• Functional Explanation

  Open Access•G A Cohen•Political Studies•1980

  Incluir item

• New Philosophies of Social Science

  Open Access•W Outhwaite•New Philosophies of Social Science•1987

  Incluir item

• Scientific Realism and Human Emancipation

  Roy Bhaskar•Scientific Realism and Human…•2009

  Incluir item

• Context and Causal Mechanisms in Political Analysis

  Open Access•Tulia Gabriela Falleti, Julia Lynch et al.•Comparative Political Studies•2009

  Incluir item

• A Pragmatist Theory of Social Mechanisms

  Open Access•Neil Gro, Neil Gross•American Sociological Review•2009

  Incluir item

• Salvation and Protest

  Helen Rose Ebaugh, Roy Wallis•Sociological Analysis•1980

  Incluir item

• Sociological Theory, Religion and Collective Action

  Williams Sims Bainbridge, Roy Wallis et al.•Sociological Analysis•1987

  Incluir item

• Analytical Sociology and Its Critics

  Open Access•G Manzo•European Journal of Sociology•2010

  Incluir item

• The Cement of Society

  Open Access•Jon Elster•Cement of Society•1989

  Incluir item

• Evolutionary Explanation in the Social Sciences

  Pierre L Van Den Berghe, Philippe Van Parijs•Social Forces•1982

  Incluir item

• Have Historical Sociologists Forsaken Theory

  Open Access•Jill Quadagno, Stan J Knapp•Sociological Methods & Research•1992

  Incluir item

• Causal Mechanisms in the Social Sciences

  Peter Hedström, Petri Ylikoski•Annual Review of Sociology•2010

  Incluir item

• The Role of General Theory in Comparative-Historical Sociology

  Edgar Kiser, Michael Hechter•American Journal of Sociology•1991

  Incluir item