silverstrata,
MCAS is
not an anti-stall device. It neither detects the stall nor acts as a kind of stick pusher. It is there to maintain the correct longitudinal stability in order to meet the certification requirements, see link below:-
https://www.boeing.com/commercial/ae...y/fo01txt.html
Boeing 747s on the British register were fitted with a stick nudger that activated in the clean configuration when the stick shaker started. It gave a gentle 16lb push and was a rough and ready way of satisying the pre-stall longitudinal stability requirement. As far as I know MCAS was a more sophisticated way of achieving the same end. Whether or not it was the right solution we will await to see.