Single Idea 8366

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 8. Particular Causation / a. Observation of causation]

Full Idea

There is an implicit dependence of the very notion of a cause on a concept of agency and action.

Gist of Idea

The very notion of a cause depends on agency and action

Source

G.H. von Wright (Logic and Epistemology of Causal Relations [1973], §10)

Book Reference

'Causation', ed/tr. Sosa,E. /Tooley,M. [OUP 1993], p.123


A Reaction

This is because he thinks experimental intervention is the key to the concept of causation (see Ideas 8362 and 8363). Others go further, and say that the concept of causation arises from subjective experience of performing actions. I quite like that.

Related Ideas

Idea 8362 We give regularities a causal character by subjecting them to experiment [Wright,GHv]

Idea 8363 p is a cause and q an effect (not vice versa) if manipulations of p change q [Wright,GHv]