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A Theory of Causation in the Social and Biological SciencesCausation in the Special Sciences

A Theory of Causation in the Social and Biological Sciences: Causation in the Special Sciences [The aim of this book is to provide a theory of causation in the special sciences (that is, a theory of causation in the social sciences, the biological sciences and other higher-level sciences). I attempt to reach this goal by pursuing a negative target and a positive target: the main negative target is to argue against a currently influential theory of causation, the interventionist theory of causation. The book will focus mainly on the interventionist theory developed in James Woodward’s (2003) book Making Things Happen. Counter-arguments against the interventionist theory will attempt to show that the central concept of the interventionist theory of causation — that is, the concept of a possible intervention — is immensely problematic. For this reason, I will argue that the interventionist theory of causation is not tenable. The main positive target of the book consists in replacing the interventionist approach with my own explication of causation in the special sciences, the comparative variability theory of causation.] http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png

A Theory of Causation in the Social and Biological SciencesCausation in the Special Sciences

Reutlinger, Alexander
Springer Journals — Oct 6, 2015
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21 pages

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Publisher
Palgrave Macmillan UK
Copyright
© Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited 2013
ISBN
978-1-349-44799-2
Pages
3 –24
DOI
10.1057/9781137281043_1
Publisher site
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Abstract

[The aim of this book is to provide a theory of causation in the special sciences (that is, a theory of causation in the social sciences, the biological sciences and other higher-level sciences). I attempt to reach this goal by pursuing a negative target and a positive target: the main negative target is to argue against a currently influential theory of causation, the interventionist theory of causation. The book will focus mainly on the interventionist theory developed in James Woodward’s (2003) book Making Things Happen. Counter-arguments against the interventionist theory will attempt to show that the central concept of the interventionist theory of causation — that is, the concept of a possible intervention — is immensely problematic. For this reason, I will argue that the interventionist theory of causation is not tenable. The main positive target of the book consists in replacing the interventionist approach with my own explication of causation in the special sciences, the comparative variability theory of causation.]

Published: Oct 6, 2015

Keywords: Special Science; Causal Statement; Causal Claim; Distinction Criterion; Naturalist Criterion

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