Single Idea 14559

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 8. Particular Causation / b. Causal relata]

Full Idea

If causation connects two events, do we need some invisible third element to tie them together? Might there be just two elements so close together that they come as a package deal? Or a single event or process in which one thing turns into another?

Gist of Idea

Does causation need a third tying ingredient, or just two that meet, or might there be a single process?

Source

S.Mumford/R.Lill Anjum (Getting Causes from Powers [2011], 5.3)

Book Reference

Anjum,R.J./Mumford,S.: 'Getting Causes from Powers' [OUP 2011], p.113


A Reaction

[compressed] Hence you find yourself drawn to 'process' philosophy, but preferably without the mystical crust laid over it by A.N. Whitehead. If we could individuate processes, we could dump all sorts of other stuff from our ontology.

Related Idea

Idea 14562 A process is unified as an expression of a collection of causal powers [Mumford/Anjum]