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Single Idea 8403

[from 'Causal Relations' by Donald Davidson, in 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 8. Particular Causation / b. Causal relata ]

Full Idea

It is best to avoid Davidson's view that only quite concrete events can serve as causes; we should either say that facts as well as events can serve as causes; or that the events can be highly unspecific, including 'omissions'.

Gist of Idea

Either facts, or highly unspecific events, serve better as causes than concrete events

Source

comment on Donald Davidson (Causal Relations [1967]) by Hartry Field - Causation in a Physical World 1

Book Reference

'The Oxford Handbook of Metaphysics', ed/tr. Loux,M /Zimmerman,D [OUP 2005], p.440


A Reaction

Something NOT happening might be the main cause of an effect (drought), or an effect may mainly result from a situation rather than an event (famine).