Sytsma, Justin and Livengood, Jonathan and Rose, David (2011) Two Types of Typicality: Rethinking the Role of Statistical Typicality in Ordinary Causal Attributions. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science.

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Abstract

Recent work on the role of norms in the use of causal language by ordinary people has
led to a consensus among several researchers: The consensus position is that causal attributions
are sensitive to both statistical norms and prescriptive norms. But what is a statistical norm? We
argue that there are at least two types that should be distinguished—agent-level statistical norms
and population-level statistical norms. We then suggest an alternative account of ordinary causal
attributions about agents (the responsibility view), noting that this view motivates divergent
predictions about the effect of information about each of the two types of statistical norms noted.
Further, these predictions run counter to those made by the consensus position. With this set-up
in place, we present the results of a series of new experimental studies testing our predictions.
The results are in line with the responsibility view, while indicating that the consensus position is
seriously mistaken.

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Item Type:	Published Article or Volume
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Sytsma, Justin Livengood, Jonathan Rose, David
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Psychology General Issues > Causation
Depositing User:	Justin Sytsma
Date Deposited:	27 May 2010
Last Modified:	14 Oct 2011 10:56
Item ID:	5372
Journal or Publication Title:	Studies in History and Philosophy of Science
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Psychology General Issues > Causation
Date:	October 2011
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/5372

Available Versions of this Item

• Two Types of Typicality: Rethinking the Role of Statistical Typicality in Ordinary Causal Attributions. (deposited 02 Apr 2010)
  • Two Types of Typicality: Rethinking the Role of Statistical Typicality in Ordinary Causal Attributions. (deposited 27 May 2010) [Currently Displayed]

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