more from Ernest Sosa

Single Idea 8445

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / d. Causal necessity]

Full Idea

The necessitated is not always a result or consequence of the necessitator. If p-and-q is a fact, then this necessitates that p, but the fact that p need not be a result or consequence of the fact that p-and-q.

Gist of Idea

The necessitated is not always a result or consequence of the necessitator

Source

Ernest Sosa (Varieties of Causation [1980], p.242)

Book Reference

'Causation', ed/tr. Sosa,E. /Tooley,M. [OUP 1993], p.242


A Reaction

This is obviously correct, and needs to be borne in mind when considering necessary causation. It is not enough to produce a piece of logic; something in the link from cause to effect must be demonstrated to be necessary.