A4 Article in conference proceedings
Mechanistic Explanations and Deliberate Misrepresentations (2020)

Siponen, M., Klaavuniemi, T., & Nathan, M. (2020). Mechanistic Explanations and Deliberate Misrepresentations. In Proceedings of the 53rd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS 2020) (pp. 5695-5704). University of Hawai'i at Manoa. Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences. https://doi.org/10.24251/HICSS.2020.699

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Siponen, Mikko; Klaavuniemi, Tuula; Nathan, Marco

Parent publication: Proceedings of the 53rd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS 2020)

Conference:

Place and date of conference: Grand Wailea, Maui, HI, USA, 7.-10.1.2020

ISBN: 978-0-9981331-3-3

Journal or series: Proceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences

ISSN: 1530-1605

eISSN: 2572-6862

Publication year: 2020

Pages range: 5695-5704

Publisher: University of Hawai'i at Manoa

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24251/HICSS.2020.699

Persistent website address: http://hdl.handle.net/10125/64441

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/67189

Abstract

The philosophy of mechanisms has developed rapidly during the last 30 years. As mechanisms-based explanations (MBEs) are often seen as an alternative to nomological, law-based explanations, MBEs could be relevant in IS. We begin by offering a short history of mechanistic philosophy and set out to clarify the contemporary landscape. We then suggest that mechanistic models provide an alternative to variance and process models in IS. Finally, we highlight how MBEs typically contain deliberate misrepresentations. Although MBEs have recently been advocated as critical realist (CR) accounts in IS, idealizations (deliberate misrepresentations) seem to violate some fundamental tenets of CR and research method principles for CR. Idealizations in MBEs, therefore, may risk being regarded as flawed in IS. If it turns out that CR cannot account for idealizations, naturalism can, and it does so without extra-philosophical baggage.

Keywords: mechanisms; explaining

Free keywords: mechanisms-based explanations

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2020

JUFO rating: 1