anti-mechanistically
|an-ti-me-chan-is-tic-al-ly|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.ti.mɛk.əˈnɪs.tɪk.li/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.ti.mek.əˈnɪs.tɪk.li/
(anti-mechanistic)
against mechanistic (reductionist) explanations
Etymology
'anti-mechanistically' originates from Modern English: the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') combined with 'mechanistic' (from 'mechanism'/'mechanic', ultimately from Greek 'mēkhanē' meaning 'device, contrivance'), with the adverbial suffix '-ally' producing the adverb form.
'anti-' (a productive prefix in Modern English) was combined with the adjective 'mechanistic' (formed from 'mechanic/mechanism' + '-istic'), and the adverbial suffix '-ally' was added to create 'anti-mechanistically'. The element 'mechan-' traces back through Latin/French to Greek 'mēkhanē'.
Originally the components referred to 'against machines' or 'against mechanical devices' (via literal senses of 'mechan-'), but the combined expression evolved to mean 'opposed to mechanistic (philosophical or explanatory) approaches' in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
in a way that opposes or rejects mechanistic explanations or approaches; not interpreting phenomena in strictly mechanical or reductionist terms.
The philosopher argued anti-mechanistically, insisting that consciousness cannot be fully explained by physical mechanisms alone.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/04 14:30