Single Idea 4781

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 9. Counterfactual Claims]

Full Idea

Kim gives a range of examples of counterfactual dependence without causation, as: 'if yesterday wasn't Monday, today wouldn't be Tuesday', and 'if my sister had not given birth, I would not be an uncle'.

Gist of Idea

Many counterfactual truths do not imply causation ('if yesterday wasn't Monday, it isn't Tuesday')

Source

report of Jaegwon Kim (Causes and Counterfactuals [1973]) by Stathis Psillos - Causation and Explanation §3.3

Book Reference

Psillos,Stathis: 'Causation and Explanation' [Acumen 2002], p.100


A Reaction

This is aimed at David Lewis. The objection seems like commonsense. "If you blink, the cat gets it". Causal claims involve counterfactuals, but they are not definitive of what causation is.