mechanist

American  

[mek-uh-nist] / ˈmɛk ə nɪst /

noun

1. a person who believes in the theory of mechanism.

2. a mechanician.

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ˈmechanist British  

/ ˈmɛkənɪst /

noun

1. a person who accepts a mechanistic philosophy

2. another name for a mechanician

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Other Word Forms

• antimechanist noun

Etymology

Origin of mechanist

First recorded in 1600–10; mechan(ic) + -ist

Example Sentences

Romantic doctors would soar off into mysticism, ignoring the brain altogether, while medical mechanists would dismiss the mind and try to transform conscious intention and selfhood into the work of gears and pulleys.

From New York Times

Darwin’s theory went into eclipse at the turn of the century, Bernard’s vitalism died out altogether, but du Bois-Reymond’s mechanist approach laid the foundation of modern biology.

From Scientific American

Where are the stage mechanists who assisted George Conquest, that unique representative of sprites and gnomes, who achieved success by "leaps and bounds?"

From Project Gutenberg

M. Maelzel, the mechanist, inventor of the musical metronome, was one of Beethoven's warmest friends and adherents.

From Project Gutenberg

But while he was technically an abstract Monist, he was practically a "mechanist," believing that it was feasible to redescribe all evolution in terms of mechanical categories.

From Project Gutenberg