Mecanicismo radical y metafísica de la causalidad

Autores/as

  • José Tomás Alvarado Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Instituto de Filosofía

Palabras clave:

mecanicismo, causalidad, teoría mecánica de la causalidad, nueva filosofía mecánica, regreso al infinito

Resumen

La teoría mecánica de la causalidad es una radicalización de la ‘nueva filosofía mecánica’ que ha sido propuesta los últimos veinte años. De acuerdo a los mecanicistas radicales la causación puede ser identificada con mecanismos. En este trabajo se presenta y se discute la perspectiva mecánica radical. Se argumenta, primero, que hay un problema categorial que afecta la posición, porque un ‘mecanismo’ es un tipo de objeto, mientras que la causación es un evento o proceso. La causación, entonces, no puede ser identificada con mecanismos, sino con la operación de mecanismos. Si la tesis del mecanicista radical se toma de acuerdo a esta última formulación, sin embargo, aparece un dilema para el mecanicista. O bien las interacciones de las partes componentes de un mecanismo son formas de causación o no. Si lo son, se genera un regreso al infinito vicioso y la teoría resulta explicativamente vacía. Si no lo son, la causación se convierte en una relación ‘extrínseca’ contra lo que ha sido sostenido por los defensores de la teoría mecánica de la causalidad.

Citas

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2024-12-21

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