mechanistic

adj

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *megʰ-der.? Ancient Greek μηχᾰνή (mēkhănḗ)der. New Latin mechanismuslbor. English mechan(ism) ▲ Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Hellenic *-tās Ancient Greek -τής (-tḗs) Ancient Greek -ῐστής (-ĭstḗs)bor. Latin -istader. Old French -istebor. Middle English -ist English -ist Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ik English -ic English -istic English mechanistic From mechan(ism) + -istic.

1. Having the impersonal and automatic characteristics of a machine.
2. Predetermined by, or as if by, a mechanism.
3. Having a physical or biological cause.

   “Such ateleological explanation is what is meant by mechanistic explanation in the broad sense.”