Single Idea 22608

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 4. Naturalised causation]

Full Idea

Causal process theories state that causation needs to be understood in terms of causal processes and their interactions, in which conserved quantities are transmitted between causal processes.

Gist of Idea

Casuation is the transmission of conserved quantities between causal processes

Source

R.D. Ingthorsson (A Powerful Particulars View of Causation [2021], 1.5)

Book Reference

'Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Time', ed/tr. Callender,Craig [OUP 2013], p.10


A Reaction

Sounds a bit circular, but the idea of transmission of something is obviously the main point. I like this idea a lot (because it is so naturalistic), but rarely find it taken seriously. Energy is usually the quantity picked out.