Single Idea 23014

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

Full Idea

Process theories of causation face a serious problem, such as killing a plant by failing to water it - a cause by omission. …Defenders of the theory propose two concepts of causation: one for legal and one for scientific contexts.

Gist of Idea

If causes are processes, what is causation by omission? (Distinguish legal from scientific causes?)

Source

Baron,S/Miller,K (Intro to the Philosophy of Time [2019], 6.2.3)

Book Reference

Baron,S/Miller,K: 'Introduction to the Philosophy of Time' [Polity 2019], p.151


A Reaction

Not much of a problem, I think. Clearly the scientific concept has priority. The plant died of dehydration, resulting from the consumption and evaporation of the available water. The human causes of that situation are legion.

Related Idea

Idea 23011 Modern accounts of causation involve either processes or counterfactuals [Baron/Miller]