Single Idea 8426

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / c. Counterfactual causation]

Full Idea

One event is the cause of another iff there exists a causal chain leading from the first to the second.

Gist of Idea

One event causes another iff there is a causal chain from first to second

Source

David Lewis (Causation [1973], p.200)

Book Reference

'Causation', ed/tr. Sosa,E. /Tooley,M. [OUP 1993], p.200


A Reaction

It will be necessary to both explain and identify a 'chain'. Some chains are extremely tenuous (Alexander could stop a barrel of beer). Go back a hundred years, and the cause of any present event is everything back then.