Three Concepts of Actual Causation

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

I argue that we need to distinguish between three concepts of actual causation: total, path-changing, and contributing actual causation. I provide two lines of argument in support of this account. First, I address three thought experiments that have been troublesome for unified accounts of actual causation, and I show that my account provides a better explanation of corresponding causal intuitions. Second, I provide a functional argument: if we assume that a key purpose of causal concepts is to guide agency, we are better off making a distinction between three concepts of actual causation.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)77-98
Number of pages22
JournalThe British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
Volume75
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2024
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85192975290

Keywords

Research priority areas of TU Dresden

DFG Classification of Subject Areas according to Review Boards

Subject groups, research areas, subject areas according to Destatis