mechanistic

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English

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Etymology

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From mechan(ism) +‎ -istic.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˌmɛkəˈnɪstɪk/

Adjective

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mechanistic (comparative more mechanistic, superlative most mechanistic)

  1. Having the impersonal and automatic characteristics of a machine.
  2. Predetermined by, or as if by, a mechanism.
  3. (philosophy) Having a physical or biological cause.
    • 1908, William McDougall, An Introduction to Social Psychology[1], section 449:
      Such ateleological explanation is what is meant by mechanistic explanation in the broad sense.

Translations

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