Single Idea 23011

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 1. Causation]

Full Idea

The two major contemporary theories of causation are process theories and counterfactual theories. …Process theories treat it as something to be discovered. …Counterfactual theories ignore processes, and treat it in terms of truth and falsity.

Gist of Idea

Modern accounts of causation involve either processes or counterfactuals

Source

Baron,S/Miller,K (Intro to the Philosophy of Time [2019], 6.1)

Book Reference

Baron,S/Miller,K: 'Introduction to the Philosophy of Time' [Polity 2019], p.148


A Reaction

I take the counterfactual theory to be a specialised branch of the project of analytic metaphysics, which seeks the logical form of causation sentences, using possible worlds semantics. In the real word its processes or nothing.

Related Idea

Idea 23013 The main process theory of causation says it is transference of mass, energy, momentum or charge [Baron/Miller]