more from S.Mumford/R.Lill Anjum

Single Idea 14573

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

Full Idea

Causes can - perhaps they usually do - make a difference but not always. In cases where they don't (such as overdetermination, or late pre-emption), the corresponding counterfactual will be false.

Gist of Idea

Occasionally a cause makes no difference (pre-emption, perhaps) so the counterfactual is false

Source

S.Mumford/R.Lill Anjum (Getting Causes from Powers [2011], 6.8)

Book Reference

Anjum,R.J./Mumford,S.: 'Getting Causes from Powers' [OUP 2011], p.151


A Reaction

The whole idea that we might be able to give a full account of causation in terms of some sort of logical relationship between possible worlds etc. appals me. We need to label something as 'Scientific Logicism', so that we can attack it.