Abstract
Evidence derived from mechanisms and evidence derived from probabilistic studies are complementary.
There are six key components of mechanisms: entities (structures), activities (functions), organization, potential interactions, phenomena (outcomes), and the internal milieu in which the mechanism is situated, which can affect outcomes. These features suggest the following definition of “mechanism”:
mechanism, n. /ˈmɛkənɪz(ə)m/ One or more entities and activities spatially and temporally organized and potentially interacting, depending on the internal milieu, in such a way as to be wholly or partly responsible for a phenomenon or phenomena [ancient Greek μηχανή a contrivance]
The relation between mechanisms and evidence implies two separate concepts:
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(a)
Evidence-based mechanism (evidence for a mechanism). This describes two types of evidence that demonstrate the existence of mechanisms (ontic evidence) and recognition of how they operate (anagnoristic evidence).
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(b)
Mechanism-based evidence (evidence from a mechanism; polychrestic evidence). This describes how biological mechanisms can be used in many ways: to analyse how adverse drug reactions occur and show how they can be prevented; to explain outcomes; to extrapolate from clinical trials to clinical practice; to suggest practical procedures (praxis); to inform drug discovery; and to generate testable hypotheses. However, clinical interventions based on predictive mechanisms alone should generally not, with a few exceptions, be used unless they have been probabilistically tested in high quality trials.
These two terms are more specific than the ambiguous terms “evidence of mechanism” and “mechanistic evidence”.
Mechanistic reasoning combines these two approaches with the results of probabilistic clinical observations.
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Notes
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The basic form of Indo-European (IE) roots is the so-called e-grade form, which contains a short e or a long ē. That can change into the so-called o-grade form, with a short o or a long ō. The vowel can also disappear or be replaced by a neutral vowel sound called a schwa, after the Hebrew vowel of that name, the so-called zero-grade form. The schwa, represented in print by an inverted e (ə), typically occurs in weakly stressed syllables. This variation in vowel sounds is called ablaut. In addition, each ablaut form can have suffixes and prefixes added. Other changes include shortening, nasalization by the insertion of the letter n, reduplication, or compounding with other forms. Each resultant form can by itself give rise to several different words. For further information see Beekes RSP. Comparative Indo-European Linguistics: An Introduction. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 1995.
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For the International Phonetic Alphabet, see: http://www.antimoon.com/how/pronunc-soundsipa.htm
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Acknowledgements
I am grateful to Stuart Glennan, Adam LaCaze, and Barbara Osimani for pertinent and helpful comments on an earlier version of this chapter.
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Aronson, J.K. (2020). Defining Aspects of Mechanisms: Evidence-Based Mechanism (Evidence for a Mechanism), Mechanism-Based Evidence (Evidence from a Mechanism), and Mechanistic Reasoning. In: LaCaze, A., Osimani, B. (eds) Uncertainty in Pharmacology. Boston Studies in the Philosophy and History of Science, vol 338. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29179-2_1
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