back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 8326

[from 'Causation and the Flow of Energy' by David Fair, in 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 4. Naturalised causation ]

Full Idea

Basic causal relations can, as a consequence of our scientific knowledge, be identified with certain physicalistic [sic] relations between objects that can be characterized in terms of transference of either energy or momentum between objects.

Gist of Idea

Science has shown that causal relations are just transfers of energy or momentum

Source

report of David Fair (Causation and the Flow of Energy [1979]) by E Sosa / M Tooley - Introduction to 'Causation' §1

Book Reference

'Causation', ed/tr. Sosa,E. /Tooley,M. [OUP 1993], p.3


A Reaction

Presumably a transfer of momentum is a transfer of energy. If only anyone had the foggiest idea what energy actually is, we'd be doing well. What is energy made of? 'No identity without substance', I say. I like Fair's idea.