Experience shows that mechanistic questions yield scientific knowledge while teleological ones do not.

Evidence

But experience has shown that the mechanistic question leads to scientific knowledge, while the teleological question does not. — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 362

Categorization

• XREF: XREF relates to philosophy of science methodology — connects to: Knowledge becomes less clear as it approaches life’s big questions. — Leo Tolstoy, A Confession, 66; Teleological explanations appeal to future purpose while mechanistic explanations trace earlier causes. — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 362; Science cannot answer the fundamental questions of human existence. — Scientific knowledge does not question the existence of God (+3 more)
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 362

Broader Connections

• Teleological explanations appeal to future purpose while mechanistic explanations trace earlier causes. #expands (0.80) — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 362
• Knowledge becomes less clear as it approaches life’s big questions. #qualifies (0.40) — Leo Tolstoy, A Confession, 66