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Single Idea 10373
[filed under theme 5. Theory of Logic / E. Structures of Logic / 1. Logical Form
]
Full Idea
Logical form should not have the last word in metaphysics, since it might predicate a property that we have theoretical reason to reject.
Gist of Idea
Logical form can't dictate metaphysics, as it may propose an undesirable property
Source
Jonathan Schaffer (The Metaphysics of Causation [2007], 1.3.1)
Book Ref
'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.11
A Reaction
These kind of warnings need to be sounded all the time, to prevent logicians and language experts from pitching their tents in the middle of metaphysics. They are welcome guests only,
The
27 ideas
from 'The Metaphysics of Causation'
10359
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In causation there are three problems of relata, and three metaphysical problems
[Schaffer,J]
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10361
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Events are fairly course-grained (just saying 'hello'), unlike facts (like saying 'hello' loudly)
[Schaffer,J]
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10360
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Causal relata are events - or facts, features, tropes, states, situations or aspects
[Schaffer,J]
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10362
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One may defend three or four causal relata, as in 'c causes e rather than e*'
[Schaffer,J]
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10367
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There is only one fact - the True
[Schaffer,J]
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10366
|
Causation transcends nature, because absences can cause things
[Schaffer,J]
|
10372
|
Causation may not be transitive; the last event may follow from the first, but not be caused by it
[Schaffer,J]
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10368
|
If causal relata must be in nature and fine-grained, neither facts nor events will do
[Schaffer,J]
|
10374
|
There are at least ten theories about causal connections
[Schaffer,J]
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10373
|
Logical form can't dictate metaphysics, as it may propose an undesirable property
[Schaffer,J]
|
10375
|
At least four rivals have challenged the view that causal direction is time direction
[Schaffer,J]
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10376
|
The actual cause may make an event less likely than a possible more effective cause
[Schaffer,J]
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10377
|
Causation may not be a process, if a crucial part of the process is 'disconnected'
[Schaffer,J]
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10378
|
A causal process needs to be connected to the effect in the right way
[Schaffer,J]
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10382
|
Causation can't be a process, because a process needs causation as a primitive
[Schaffer,J]
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10383
|
The relata of causation (such as events) need properties as explanation, which need causation!
[Schaffer,J]
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10380
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Causation is primitive; it is too intractable and central to be reduced; all explanations require it
[Schaffer,J]
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10385
|
If causation is just observables, or part of common sense, or vacuous, it can't be primitive
[Schaffer,J]
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10387
|
The notion of causation allows understanding of science, without appearing in equations
[Schaffer,J]
|
10388
|
Causation is utterly essential for numerous philosophical explanations
[Schaffer,J]
|
10384
|
If two different causes are possible in one set of circumstances, causation is primitive
[Schaffer,J]
|
10386
|
If causation is primitive, it can be experienced in ourselves, or inferred as best explanation
[Schaffer,J]
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10381
|
All four probability versions of causation may need causation to be primitive
[Schaffer,J]
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10389
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Causal order must be temporal, or else causes could be blocked, and time couldn't be explained
[Schaffer,J]
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10390
|
Causal order is not temporal, because of time travel, and simultanous, joint or backward causes
[Schaffer,J]
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10393
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Our selection of 'the' cause is very predictable, so must have a basis
[Schaffer,J]
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10394
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Selecting 'the' cause must have a basis; there is no causation without such a selection
[Schaffer,J]
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