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Can Causal Powers Cause Their Effects?

Andrea, Raimondi (2022) Can Causal Powers Cause Their Effects? [Preprint]

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Abstract

Causal Dispositionalism provides an account of causation based on an ontology of causal powers, properties with causal essence. According to the account, causation can be analysed in terms of the interaction of powers and its subsequent production of their effect. Recently, Baltimore, J. A. (2022. “Dispositionalism, Causation, and the Interaction Gap.” Erkenntnis 87: 677–92) has raised a challenge against two competing approaches, the compositional view (CV) and the mutual manifestation view (MMV), to explain what makes powers interactive – the interaction gap. In this paper, we raise the challenge of explaining what makes powers productive – the production gap. While Baltimore’s verdict is tentatively favouring (MMV), we find both approaches wanting. Our conclusion is that Causal Dispositionalists should take Baltimore’s and our critique seriously. Powers cannot cause their effects just by bearing the name “causal”. To deserve their names, more metaphysical details are needed.

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Item Type: Preprint
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Andrea, Raimondi
Keywords: Causal Powers; Dispositionalism; Causation
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
General Issues > Causation
Depositing User: Dr. Andrea Raimondi
Date Deposited: 05 Dec 2022 14:19
Last Modified: 05 Dec 2022 14:19
Item ID: 21510
Journal or Publication Title: Metaphysica
Official URL: https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/mp-...
DOI or Unique Handle: https://doi.org/10.1515/mp-2022-0001
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
General Issues > Causation
Date: 20 September 2022
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/21510

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