University of Sussex
Browse

File(s) not publicly available

A counterfactual analysis of causation

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 00:54 authored by Murali Ramachandran
On David Lewis's original analysis of causation, c causes e only if c is linked to e by a chain of distinct events such that each event in the chain (counter-factually) depends on the former one. But this requirement precludes the possibility of late pre-emptive causation, of causation by fragile events, and of indeterministic causation. Lewis proposes three different strategies for accommodating these three kinds of cases, but none of these turn out to be satisfactory. I offer a single analysis of causation that resolves these problems in one go but which respects Lewis's initial insights. One distinctive feature of my account is that it accommodates indeterministic causation without resorting to probabilities.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Mind

ISSN

0026-4423

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Issue

422

Volume

106

Page range

263 - 277

Pages

15.0

ISBN

0026-4423

Department affiliated with

  • Philosophy Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC