Causation, Production, and Dependence, or A Model-Invariant Theory of Causation
Abstract
I provide a theory of causation formulated within the causal modeling framework. This theory is model-invariant in the following sense: if the theory says that C caused (didn't cause) E in a causal model, M, then it will continue to say that C caused (didn't cause) E once we've removed an inessential variable from M. On this theory, we can understand causation as a model-invariant generalization of a relation of causal production. Begin by saying that C produces E iff they are linked by an uninterrupted process propagating non-inertial states. Given this definition, whether we say that C produces E will depend upon whether we include or remove inessential variables lying along, or feeding into, the path from C to E. Weakening production so as to make the relation model-invariant delivers causation.
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GALCPA-8
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Added to PP index
2018-06-18
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2018-06-18
Total downloads
67 ( #25,444 of 37,098 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
19 ( #17,549 of 37,098 )
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