Single Idea 10378

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

Full Idea

A problem case for the process view of causation is 'misconnection'. A process may be connected to an effect, without being causal, as when someone watches an act of vandalism in dismay.

Gist of Idea

A causal process needs to be connected to the effect in the right way

Source

Jonathan Schaffer (The Metaphysics of Causation [2007], 2.1.1)

Book Reference

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.20


A Reaction

This is a better objection to the process view than Idea 10377. If I push a window with increasing force until it breaks, the process is continuous, but it suddenly becomes a cause.

Related Idea

Idea 10377 Causation may not be a process, if a crucial part of the process is 'disconnected' [Schaffer,J]