Single Idea 4801

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 4. Regularities / a. Regularity theory]

Full Idea

A regularity can be used to predict a future event irrespective of whether it is deemed causal or not. A farmer can predict that dawn has broken on hearing the cock's crow.

Gist of Idea

The regularity of a cock's crow is used to predict dawn, even though it doesn't cause it

Source

Stathis Psillos (Causation and Explanation [2002], §8.1)

Book Reference

Psillos,Stathis: 'Causation and Explanation' [Acumen 2002], p.217


A Reaction

This seems a highly significant criticism of any view that says regularity leads to causation, which is the basis of induction, which leads to counterfactual claims, and thus arrives a the laws of nature.