Mechanical philosophy

As a mechanistic worldview (also: mechanistic, mechanistic worldview, mechanical philosophy ) refers to a position which is set to a metaphysical materialism, ie the thesis that only matter exists and, for example, the human mind or will not by reference to Intangible is explainable. A lower form of this thesis is the atomism, according to which the whole of reality consists of the smallest physical objects. Moreover usually the assumption that matter has only a very narrow range of actions: it can only react to external influences and, according to the mechanistic always does so at the same impulses in the same way This results in a determinism, that is, the thesis that the all of reality is governed by strict laws of nature, so that, in principle at their exact knowledge as well as an exact knowledge of the state of the world at a time when all states at all time points are calculable, which also includes states of the human mind and will by means of materialist thesis. This assumption has led to the thought experiment of Laplace's demon.

Both metaphysical theses, materialism and determinism corresponds to an epistemological methodology, according to which nature is to be quantitatively and causally explained by reference to strict laws and, as they are used in the classical Newtonian mechanics. This applies particularly to biological processes, that is opposed to the so-called vitalism (see eg Doctrine médicale de l' École de Montpellier), in which a life principle is adopted.

The two basic theses, materialism and determinism, can also occur in combination with individual as a " mechanistic " designated theories.

Reception

According to Hannah Arendt, the watch parable is to be regarded as self-evident paradigm of a mechanistic worldview. It originates from a time of the 18th century, will appear in the in the watch movements, the process character of the natural. Nature is regarded as the end product of a divine manufacturer. On the other hand, symbolizes this display model but the beginning deification of homo faber. The limitations of natural science have even still remains in this somewhat rigid mechanistic picture.