Brunet, Tyler D. P. (2021) Local Causation. [Preprint]
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Abstract
The counterfactual and regularity theories are universal accounts of causation. I argue that these should be generalized to produce local accounts of causation. A hallmark of universal accounts of causation is the assumption that apparent variation in causation between locations must be explained by differences in background causal conditions, by features of the causal-nexus or causing-complex. The local account of causation presented here rejects this assumption, allowing for genuine variation in causation to be explained by differences in location. I argue that local accounts of causation are plausible, and have pragmatic, empirical and theoretical advantages over universal accounts.
I then report on the use of presheaves as models of local causation. The use of presheaves as models of local variation has precedents in algebraic geometry, category theory and physics; they are here used as models of local causal variation. The paper presents this idea as stemming from an approach using presheaves as models of local truth. Finally, I argue that a proper balance between universal and local causation can be assuaged by moving from presheaves to fully-fledged sheaf models.
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| Item Type: | Preprint | ||||||
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| Keywords: | Causation; Regularities; Counterfactuals; Locality; Sheaf Models | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics General Issues > Causation General Issues > Models and Idealization |
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| Depositing User: | Dr. Tyler D. P. Brunet | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 24 Jun 2021 15:15 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 24 Jun 2021 15:15 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 19216 | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics General Issues > Causation General Issues > Models and Idealization |
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| Date: | 17 June 2021 | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/19216 |
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