
Cover -- A Variety Of Causes -- Copyright -- Preface And Acknowledgements -- Contents -- 1: The Analysis Of Causation -- 1.1 From Regularities To Counterfactuals -- 1.2 Counterfactuals And Dependency -- 1.2.1 The Sufficient Condition And The Possible Worlds Semantics Of Counterfactuals -- 1.2.2 Causal Necessity And Sufficiency -- 1.2.3 Indeterministic Causation: Preliminary Characterization -- 1.2.4 Counterfactual Versus Conditional Chance-raising -- 1.2.5 Causal Necessity And Sufficiency And The Tie Between Events -- 1.3 Types Of Counterfactual Theory 1.4 Causation As A Natural Relation And The Nature Of Analysis -- 1.5 Alternative Accounts Of Causation And The Discussion Ahead -- 2: Humean Supervenience And The Possibility Of Necessitation -- 2.1 Humean Supervenience And The Denial Of Necessary Connections -- 2.2 Experiences Of Causation And Necessary Connection -- 2.3 The Concept Of Necessary Connection -- 2.4 Distinct Existence -- 2.4.1 Modal Characterization Of Distinct Existence -- 2.4.2 Spatial Characterization Of Distinct Existence -- 2.4.3 The Distinct Arrangement Characterization Of Distinct Existence And Distinct Existence Pluralism 2.5 Concluding Remarks -- 3: Counterfactuals And Closeness -- 3.1 Lewis' Similarity Weighting And The Status Of The Perfect Match Condition -- 3.2 The Future Similarity Objection Under Indeterminism -- 3.3 Antecedent-relative Potential Chance-raising -- 3.4 The Approximate Match Condition And The Appeal To Causal Independence -- 3.5 Match And The Causal Circumstances Of The Antecedent: Issues With The Transition Period -- 3.5.1 Backtracking And The Threat Of Circularity -- 3.5.2 A Tendency To Lateness? -- 3.5.3 Miracles Against Match -- 3.5.4 Similarity Of Causal Circumstances 3.5.5 Closing Remarks -- 3.6 A General Defence Of The Approach -- 4: A Counterfactual Analysis Of Causation -- 4.1 Indeterministic Causation And Pre-emption: A Devastating Combination -- 4.2 Completed Causal Processes -- 4.2.1 Towards An Alternative Anal
This work investigates the fundamental nature of causation by evaluating the adequacy of counterfactual theories in explaining causal relationships. Paul Noordhof, a philosopher specializing in metaphysics and the philosophy of mind, examines the tension between Humean supervenience and the necessity of causal connections. He constructs a rigorous framework that addresses how indeterministic causation and pre-emption challenge traditional counterfactual models.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Experts recognize this text as a sophisticated contribution to contemporary metaphysical debates regarding causal necessity. Readers frequently note the high level of academic density and the requirement for a strong background in formal logic and modal semantics to fully grasp the arguments presented.
Page Count:
0
Publication Date:
1900-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press,
ISBN-10:
0191892270
ISBN-13:
9780191892271
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