Mechanistic explanations are often said to explain because they reveal the causal structure of the world. Conversely, dynamical models supposedly lack explanatory power because they do not describe causal structure. The only way for dynamical models to produce causal explanations is via the 3M criterion: the model must be mapped onto a mechanism. This framing of the situation has become the received view around the viability of dynamical explanation. In this paper, I argue against this position and show that dynamical models can themselves reveal causal structure and consequently produce non-mechanistic, dynamical explanations. Taking the example of cell fates from systems biology, I show how dynamical models, and specifically the attractor landscapes they describe, identify the causes of cell differentiation and explain why cells select particular fates. These dynamical features of the system better fit Woodward’s (Biol Philos 25(3):287–318, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10539-010-9200-z; Synthese, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-018-01998-6) criteria of specificity and proportionality and make them the best candidate causes of cell fates than mechanisms. I also show how these causes are irreducible and inaccessible to mechanistic models, making 3M unworkable and counterproductive in this case. Dynamical models can reveal dynamical causes and thereby provide causal explanations.

人们常说用机械解释来解释，因为它们揭示了世界的因果结构。相反，动力学模型据称缺乏解释力，因为它们没有描述因果关系。动态模型产生因果解释的唯一方法是通过3M准则：必须将模型映射到机制上。这种情况的框架已成为围绕动力学解释的可行性的公认观点。在本文中，我反对这种立场，并表明动力学模型本身可以揭示因果结构，从而产生非力学的动力学解释。以系统生物学中的细胞命运为例，我展示了动力学模型，特别是它们描述的吸引子态，确定细胞分化的原因并解释为什么细胞选择特定命运。系统的这些动态功能更适合伍德沃德（Biol Philos 25（3）：287–318，2010. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10539-010-9200-z; Synthese，2018.https：// doi （.org / 10.1007 / s11229-018-01998-6）的特异性和比例性标准，并使其成为最理想的细胞死亡原因而非机制。我还说明了这些原因是机械模型如何无法避免和无法访问的，从而使3M在这种情况下不可行且适得其反。动力学模型可以揭示动力学原因，从而提供因果关系的解释。1007 / s11229-018-01998-6）的特异性和相称性标准，并使其成为最理想的细胞死亡原因而非机制。我还说明了这些原因是机械模型如何无法避免和无法访问的，从而使3M在这种情况下不可行且适得其反。动力学模型可以揭示动力学原因，从而提供因果关系的解释。1007 / s11229-018-01998-6）的特异性和相称性标准，并使其成为最理想的细胞死亡原因而非机制。我还说明了这些原因是机械模型如何无法避免和无法访问的，从而使3M在这种情况下不可行且适得其反。动力学模型可以揭示动力学原因，从而提供因果关系的解释。