back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 15126

[from 'Causal Structuralism' by John Hawthorne, in 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 7. Eliminating causation ]

Full Idea

Perhaps science doesn't need a robust conception of causation, and can get by with thinking of causal laws in a Humean way, as the simplest generalization over the mosaic.

Gist of Idea

Maybe scientific causation is just generalisation about the patterns

Source

John Hawthorne (Causal Structuralism [2001], 1.5)

Book Reference

Hawthorne,John: 'Metaphysical Essays' [OUP 2002], p.219


A Reaction

The Humean view he is referring to is held by David Lewis. That seems a council of defeat. We observe from a distance, but make no attempt to explain.