Single Idea 8435

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 2. Types of cause]

Full Idea

Theories of causation are split between event and fact/state of affairs theories. The first have the form 'the explosion caused the fire' (perfect nominals) and the second have the form 'the fire started because a bomb dropped' (sentential clauses).

Gist of Idea

Causes are between events ('the explosion') or between facts/states of affairs ('a bomb dropped')

Source

Jonathan Bennett (Event Causation: counterfactual analysis [1987])

Book Reference

'Causation', ed/tr. Sosa,E. /Tooley,M. [OUP 1993], p.217


A Reaction

Surely events must have priority? The form which uses facts is drifting off into explanation, and is much more likely to involve subjective human elements and interpretations. Events are closer to the physics, and the mechanics of what happens.