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Full Idea
There is evidence that the concept of causation is innate, or that we are primed to acquire it very early in life, within months at most.
Gist of Idea
Causation seems to be an innate concept (or acquired very early)
Source
Alexander Bird (Causation and the Manifestation of Powers [2010], p.167)
Book Ref
'The Metaphysics of Powers', ed/tr. Marmodoro,Anna [OUP 2013], p.167
A Reaction
Bird doesn't give any references. This is important for our understanding of induction. Creatures seem to learn from a single instance, rather than waiting for habit to be ingrained by many instances. They must infer a cause.
17526 | The counterfactual approach makes no distinction between cause and pre-condition [Bird] |
17527 | Causation seems to be an innate concept (or acquired very early) [Bird] |
17528 | The dispositional account explains causation, as stimulation and manifestation of dispositions [Bird] |