Full Idea
Explaining why struck matches light in general is not so very different from explaining why some particular struck match lit. ...We may generalize modestly, without laying claim to universality.
Gist of Idea
Explaining match lighting in general is like explaining one lighting of a match
Source
David Lewis (Causal Explanation [1986], IV)
Book Reference
Lewis,David: 'Philosophical Papers Vol.2' [OUP 1986], p.225
A Reaction
A suggestive remark, since particular causation and general causation seem far apart, but Lewis suggests that the needs of explanation bring them together. Lawlike and unlawlike explanations?