more from E Sosa / M Tooley

Single Idea 8327

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 4. Naturalised causation]

Full Idea

The objection to Fair's view that the direction of causation is the direction of the transference of energy and/or momentum is that the concept of transference itself involves the idea of causation.

Gist of Idea

If direction of causation is just direction of energy transfer, that seems to involve causation

Source

E Sosa / M Tooley (Introduction to 'Causation' [1993], §1)

Book Reference

'Causation', ed/tr. Sosa,E. /Tooley,M. [OUP 1993], p.4


A Reaction

Does it? If a particle proceeds from a to b, how is that causation? ...But the problem is that the particle kicks open the door when it arrives (i.e. makes changes). We wouldn't call it causation if the transference didn't change any properties.