Single Idea 8370

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 8. Particular Causation / d. Selecting the cause]

Full Idea

The cause of the particular change K was such particular change C as alone occurred in the immediate environment of K immediately before.

Gist of Idea

A cause is a change which occurs close to the effect and just before it

Source

Curt Ducasse (Nature and Observability of Causal Relations [1926], §3)

Book Reference

'Causation', ed/tr. Sosa,E. /Tooley,M. [OUP 1993], p.127


A Reaction

The obvious immediately difficulty would be overdetermination, as when it rains while I am watering my garden. The other problem would coincidence, as when I clap my hands just before a bomb goes off.