more from David Lewis

Single Idea 14321

[catalogued under 14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / g. Causal explanations]

Full Idea

Here is my main thesis: to explain an event is to provide some information about its causal history.

Gist of Idea

To explain an event is to provide some information about its causal history

Source

David Lewis (Causal Explanation [1986], II)

Book Reference

Lewis,David: 'Philosophical Papers Vol.2' [OUP 1986], p.217


A Reaction

The obvious thought is that you might provide some tiny and barely relevant part of that causal history, such as a bird perched on the Titanic's iceberg. So how do we distinguish the 'important' causal information?