Single Idea 17494

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 4. Naturalised causation]

Full Idea

Causation can be analyzed in terms of mechanisms because (except for fundamental causal interactions) causally related events will be connected by intervening mechanisms.

Gist of Idea

Since causal events are related by mechanisms, causation can be analysed in that way

Source

Stuart Glennan (Mechanisms [2008], 'causation')

Book Reference

'Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Science', ed/tr. Psillos,S/Curd,M [Routledge 2010], p.381


A Reaction

This won't give us the metaphysics of causation (which concerns the fundamentals), but this strikes me as a very coherent and interesting proposal. He mentions electron interaction as non-mechanistic causation.

Related Idea

Idea 17493 Modern mechanism need parts with spatial, temporal and function facts, and diagrams [Glennan]