Combining Texts

Ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'German Philosophy 1760-1860' and 'The Powers Metaphysics'

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3 ideas

26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 1. Causation
Causation needs to explain stasis, as well as change [Williams,NE]
     Full Idea: I believe that it is also the job of a theory of causation to explain non-change
     From: Neil E. Williams (The Powers Metaphysics [2019], 07.2)
     A reaction: Good point. Most attempts to pin down causation refer only to changes and differences. Two playing cards propping one another up is his example.
Causation is the exercise of powers [Williams,NE]
     Full Idea: Causation is the exercising of powers.
     From: Neil E. Williams (The Powers Metaphysics [2019], 06.1)
     A reaction: Job done. Get over it. This is the view I prefer.
26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 8. Particular Causation / b. Causal relata
If causes and effects overlap, that makes changes impossible [Williams,NE]
     Full Idea: It would be shocking if an account of causation ruled out the possibility of change. But if a cause perfectly overlaps its effect in time, then the rejection of change is precisely what follows.
     From: Neil E. Williams (The Powers Metaphysics [2019], 07.6)
     A reaction: He cites Kant, Martin, Heil and Mumford/Anjum for this view. The latter seem to see causation as a 'process' (allowing change), which Williams as ruled out. The Williams point must be correct.