Single Idea 17524

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / c. Counterfactual causation]

Full Idea

Lewis's basic account has a basic causal relation, counterfactual dependence, and the general causal relation is the ancestral of this basic one. ...This is motivated by counterfactual dependence failing to be general because of the pre-emption problem.

Gist of Idea

Lewis has basic causation, counterfactuals, and a general ancestral (thus handling pre-emption)

Source

report of David Lewis (Causation [1973]) by Alexander Bird - Causation and the Manifestation of Powers p.161

Book Reference

'The Metaphysics of Powers', ed/tr. Marmodoro,Anna [OUP 2013], p.161


A Reaction

It is so nice when you struggle for ages with a topic, and then some clever person summarises it clearly for you.

Related Idea

Idea 10032 'Ancestral' relations are derived by iterating back from a given relation [Frege, by George/Velleman]