A theory of causation: causae causantes (originating causes) as inus conditions in branching space-times

Belnap, Nuel (2002) A theory of causation: causae causantes (originating causes) as inus conditions in branching space-times.

Abstract

Branching space-times (BST) theory, as developed elsewhere,
permits a sound and rigorously definable notion of
``originating cause'' or causa causans---a type of
transition event---of an outcome event. Mackie has famously
suggested that causes form a family of ``inus'' conditions,
where an inus condition is ``an insufficient but
non-redundant part of an unnecessary sufficient condition.''
In this essay the needed concepts of BST theory are
developed in detail, and it is then proved that the causae
causantes a given outcome event have exactly the structure
of a set of Mackie inus conditions. The proof requires the
assumption that there is no EPR-like ``funny business.''
This seems enough to constitute a theory of ``causation'' in
at least one of its many senses.