Single Idea 7853

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

Full Idea

Any serious theory of the mind-brain must explain whether it thinks of causation in terms of events, facts, or states of affairs.

Gist of Idea

Causation is based on either events, or facts, or states of affairs

Source

David Papineau (Thinking about Consciousness [2002], Intro §6)

Book Reference

Papineau,David: 'Thinking about Consciousness' [OUP 2004], p.8


A Reaction

I instantly prefer events, simply because they can be specified a little more precisely than the other two. Since cause has a direction in time, it would be nice to specify the times of its components, and events have times.