Causation and Explanation (Topics in Contemporary Philosophy) - Hardcover

Campbell, Joseph Keim; O′rourke, Michael; Silverstein, Harry S

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0262033631 ISBN 13: 9780262033633

Publisher: MIT Press, 2007

Synopsis

This collection of original essays on the topics of causation and explanation offers readers a state-of-the-art view of current work in these areas. The book is notable for its interdisciplinary character, and the essays, by distinguished authors and important rising scholars, will be of interest to a wide readership, including philosophers, computer scientists, and economists. Students and scholars alike will find the book valuable for its wide-ranging treatment of two difficult philosophical topics. The volume focuses first on the development of theories of causation and explanation, and then on the application of those theories. Theoretical discussions include Patrick Suppes's investigation of the causal issues surrounding intentional activities such as computation and decision making, and Clark Glymour and Frank Wimberly's analysis of technical issues encountered in formulating an account of actual causation. The essays exploring applications include Nancy Cartwright's examination of the application of counterfactuals to economics and Alfred Mele's criticism of the work of Benjamin Libet on the applicability of experimental results in psychology to philosophical analyses of free will and self-control. Causation and Explanation offers a remarkably wide-ranging set of essays on two topics that present difficult philosophical issues.

About this title

Synopsis:

In this book, leading scholars discuss the development and application of theories of causation and explanation, offering a state-of-the-art view of current work on these two topics. This collection of original essays on the topics of causation and explanation offers readers a state-of-the-art view of current work in these areas. The book is notable for its interdisciplinary character, and the essays, by distinguished authors and important rising scholars, will be of interest to a wide readership, including philosophers, computer scientists, and economists. Students and scholars alike will find the book valuable for its wide-ranging treatment of two difficult philosophical topics. The volume focuses first on the development of theories of causation and explanation, and then on the application of those theories. Theoretical discussions include Patrick Suppes' investigation of the causal issues surrounding intentional activities such as computation and decision making, and Clark Glymour and Frank Wimberly's analysis of technical issues encountered in formulating an account of actual causation.

The essays exploring applications include Nancy Cartwright's examination of the application of counterfactuals to economics and Alfred Mele's criticism of the work of Benjamin Libet on the applicability of experimental results in psychology to philosophical analyses of free will and self-control. "Causation and Explanation" offers a remarkably wide-ranging set of essays on two topics that present difficult philosophical issues.

About the Author:

Joseph Keim Campbell is Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Washington State University. Michael O'Rourke is Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Michigan State University. Harry S. Silverstein is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Philosophy at Washington State University, and coeditor of three previous volumes in the Topics in Contemporary Philosophy series, Causation and Explanation (2007), Knowledge and Skepticism (2010), and Time and Identity (2010), all published by the MIT Press.

About this edition

• Publisher: MIT Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0262033631
• ISBN 13: 9780262033633
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 480