Single Idea 8438

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / c. Counterfactual causation]

Full Idea

Any counterfactual about a particular event implies or presupposes something about the event's essence.

Gist of Idea

A counterfactual about an event implies something about the event's essence

Source

Jonathan Bennett (Event Causation: counterfactual analysis [1987], p.219)

Book Reference

'Causation', ed/tr. Sosa,E. /Tooley,M. [OUP 1993], p.219


A Reaction

This is where the counterfactual theory suddenly becomes more interesting, instead of just being a rather bare account of the logical structure of causation. (Bennett offers some discussion of possible essential implications).