Single Idea 8350

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 8. Particular Causation / c. Conditions of causation]

Full Idea

Since Mill it has been fairly common to explain causation one way or another in terms of 'necessary' and 'sufficient' conditions.

Clarification

Mill's book was 1843

Gist of Idea

Since Mill causation has usually been explained by necessary and sufficient conditions

Source

G.E.M. Anscombe (Causality and Determinism [1971], §1)

Book Reference

'Causation', ed/tr. Sosa,E. /Tooley,M. [OUP 1993], p.90


A Reaction

Interesting to see what Hume implies about these criteria. Anscombe is going to propose that causal events are fairly self-evident and self-explanatory, and don't need analyses of conditions. Another approach is regularities and laws.