>'The Mechanistic Theory is an explanatory framework that seeks to understand complex phenomena by breaking them down into simpler components and analyzing the interactions among these components.' - [Mechanistic Theory in Formal Philosophy](https://www.numberanalytics.com/blog/mechanistic-theory-formal-philosophy) Mechanism is the view of the natural world as a system of clockwork instead of as a living organism. Fueled by kinetic energy of motion by contact. It has its roots in 17th century mechanical philosophy which understood the natural world in terms of machines and mechanistic processes. As well as, living beings. See: [[@Descartes]] and his torturous experimentation on dogs. Or the Victorian belief that children weren't human, ensouled, or living until they became adults. ## Sources: - [[Aristotle-Physica]] - [[Matthews, Freya (2021) The Ecological Self]] - [[Systems Theory]]