The Counterfactual NESS Definition of Causation

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2012.05123v2
• Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2020 21:46:12 GMT
• Title: The Counterfactual NESS Definition of Causation
• Authors: Sander Beckers
• Abstract summary: I show that our definition is in fact a formalization of Wright's famous NESS definition of causation combined with a counterfactual difference-making condition. I modify our definition to offer a substantial improvement: I weaken the difference-making condition in such a way that it avoids the problematic analysis of cases of preemption.
• Score: 3.198144010381572
• License: http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/
• Abstract: In previous work with Joost Vennekens I proposed a definition of actual causation that is based on certain plausible principles, thereby allowing the debate on causation to shift away from its heavy focus on examples towards a more systematic analysis. This paper contributes to that analysis in two ways. First, I show that our definition is in fact a formalization of Wright's famous NESS definition of causation combined with a counterfactual difference-making condition. This means that our definition integrates two highly influential approaches to causation that are claimed to stand in opposition to each other. Second, I modify our definition to offer a substantial improvement: I weaken the difference-making condition in such a way that it avoids the problematic analysis of cases of preemption. The resulting Counterfactual NESS definition of causation forms a natural compromise between counterfactual approaches and the NESS approach.

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