more from Paul Horwich

Single Idea 8432

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

Full Idea

In my view, counterfactual conditionals are analysed in terms of causation.

Gist of Idea

Analyse counterfactuals using causation, not the other way around

Source

Paul Horwich (Lewis's Programme [1987], p.208)

Book Reference

'Causation', ed/tr. Sosa,E. /Tooley,M. [OUP 1993], p.208


A Reaction

This immediately sounds more plausible to me. Counterfactual claims are rather human, whereas causation (if we accept it) seems a feature of nature. The key question is whether some sort of 'dependency' is a feature of counterfactuals.