Single Idea 8419

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 8. Particular Causation / d. Selecting the cause]

Full Idea

In present-day regularity analyses, a cause is defined (roughly) as any member of any minimal set of actual conditions that are jointly sufficient, given the laws, for the existence of the effect.

Gist of Idea

The modern regularity view says a cause is a member of a minimal set of sufficient conditions

Source

David Lewis (Causation [1973], p.193)

Book Reference

'Causation', ed/tr. Sosa,E. /Tooley,M. [OUP 1993], p.193


A Reaction

This is the view Lewis is about to reject. It seem to summarise the essence of the Mackie INUS theory. This account would make the presence of oxygen a cause of almost every human event.