Ramachandran, Murali (1997) A counterfactual analysis of causation. Mind, 106 (422). 263 - 277. ISSN 0026-4423

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Abstract

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.

Item Type:	Article
Schools and Departments:	School of History, Art History and Philosophy > Philosophy
Depositing User:	Murali Ramachandran
Date Deposited:	06 Feb 2012 20:00
Last Modified:	06 Jul 2012 08:32
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/23490

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