Combining Philosophers
Ideas for Stephen Mumford, Alcmaeon and Stathis Psillos
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41 ideas
26. Natural Theory / B. Natural Kinds / 4. Source of Kinds
14344
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Natural kinds, such as electrons, all behave the same way because we divide them by dispositions [Mumford]
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26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 1. Causation
4403
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We can't base our account of causation on explanation, because it is the wrong way round [Psillos]
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19068
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Causation interests us because we want to explain change [Mumford]
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4399
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Causes clearly make a difference, are recipes for events, explain effects, and are evidence [Psillos]
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4400
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Theories of causation are based either on regularity, or on intrinsic relations of properties [Psillos]
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26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 2. Types of cause
4789
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Three divisions of causal theories: generalist/singularist, intrinsic/extrinsic, reductive/non-reductive [Psillos]
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26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 8. Particular Causation / b. Causal relata
4790
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If causation is 'intrinsic' it depends entirely on the properties and relations of the cause and effect [Psillos]
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26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / b. Nomological causation
4402
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Empiricists tried to reduce causation to explanation, which they reduced to logic-plus-a-law [Psillos]
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9430
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Singular causes, and identities, might be necessary without falling under a law [Mumford]
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26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / c. Counterfactual causation
9445
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We can give up the counterfactual account if we take causal language at face value [Mumford]
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4774
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Counterfactual claims about causation imply that it is more than just regular succession [Psillos]
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26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / d. Causal necessity
9443
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It is only properties which are the source of necessity in the world [Mumford]
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26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 1. Laws of Nature
14338
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In the 'laws' view events are basic, and properties are categorical, only existing when manifested [Mumford]
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9444
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There are four candidates for the logical form of law statements [Mumford]
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26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 3. Laws and Generalities
14339
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Without laws, how can a dispositionalist explain general behaviour within kinds? [Mumford]
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4793
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"All gold cubes are smaller than one cubic mile" is a true universal generalisation, but not a law [Psillos]
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26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 4. Regularities / a. Regularity theory
14341
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Dretske and Armstrong base laws on regularities between individual properties, not between events [Mumford]
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4397
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Regularity doesn't seem sufficient for causation [Psillos]
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4792
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A Humean view of causation says it is regularities, and causal facts supervene on non-causal facts [Psillos]
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4801
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The regularity of a cock's crow is used to predict dawn, even though it doesn't cause it [Psillos]
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9441
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Regularity laws don't explain, because they have no governing role [Mumford]
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14340
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It is a regularity that whenever a person sneezes, someone (somewhere) promptly coughs [Mumford]
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9431
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Pure regularities are rare, usually only found in idealized conditions [Mumford]
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9415
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Would it count as a regularity if the only five As were also B? [Mumford]
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4401
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It is not a law of nature that all the coins in my pocket are euros, though it is a regularity [Psillos]
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9416
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Regularities are more likely with few instances, and guaranteed with no instances! [Mumford]
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26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 4. Regularities / b. Best system theory
9422
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If the best system describes a nomological system, the laws are in nature, not in the description [Mumford]
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9421
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The best systems theory says regularities derive from laws, rather than constituting them [Mumford]
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4796
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Laws are sets of regularities within a simple and strong coherent system of wider regularities [Psillos]
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26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 5. Laws from Universals
9432
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Laws of nature are necessary relations between universal properties, rather than about particulars [Mumford]
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9433
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If laws can be uninstantiated, this favours the view of them as connecting universals [Mumford]
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26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / b. Scientific necessity
14345
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The necessity of an electron being an electron is conceptual, and won't ground necessary laws [Mumford]
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26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / c. Essence and laws
9434
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Laws of nature are just the possession of essential properties by natural kinds [Mumford]
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26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / d. Knowing essences
14307
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Some dispositions are so far unknown, until we learn how to manifest them [Mumford]
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9437
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To distinguish accidental from essential properties, we must include possible members of kinds [Mumford]
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26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / e. Anti scientific essentialism
4799
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Dispositional essentialism can't explain its key distinction between essential and non-essential properties [Psillos]
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26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 9. Counterfactual Claims
4780
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In some counterfactuals, the counterfactual event happens later than its consequent [Psillos]
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4791
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Counterfactual theories say causes make a difference - if c hadn't occurred, then e wouldn't occur [Psillos]
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26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 11. Against Laws of Nature
9439
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The Central Dilemma is how to explain an internal or external view of laws which govern [Mumford]
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9412
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You only need laws if you (erroneously) think the world is otherwise inert [Mumford]
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9411
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There are no laws of nature in Aristotle; they became standard with Descartes and Newton [Mumford]
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