Causal and mechanistic explanations in ecology

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Philosophy of Science

Background:

• Ecology faces challenges in scientific explanation due to a perceived lack of universal laws.
• Traditional views often link explanation to law-like generalizations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and defend an account of scientific causal explanation in ecology.
• To establish a criterion for explanatory relevance based on invariance under intervention.

Main Methods:

• Defining ecological generalizations as explanatory if they are invariant, rather than lawlike.
• Utilizing the concept of intervention to test the validity of generalizations.
• Applying the invariance criterion to ecological generalizations and mechanistic explanations.

Main Results:

• Ecological generalizations can be explanatory if they exhibit invariance under intervention.
• Invariance provides a robust criterion for identifying causal difference-makers in ecological systems.
• The account offers new interpretations for the explanatory status of many ecological generalizations.

Conclusions:

• Causal explanations in ecology are possible using generalizations that are not strictly lawlike.
• Invariance and modularity are key components of mechanistic explanations in ecology.