Metaphysical Causation

Dr. Alastair Wilson (University of Birmingham)

Tues 21 Jan, 5.00pm
Room 243, second floor, Senate House, WC1

Alastair Wilson (Birmingham)

Metaphysical Causation

Abstract: There is a systematic and suggestive analogy between grounding and causation. In my view, this is no coincidence: grounding and causation resemble one another because grounding is a type of causation. I defend the identification of grounding with metaphysical causation from some initial objections, and I draw on the causation literature to explore connections between grounding and counterfactuals. I outline a non-reductive counterfactual theory of grounding along interventionist lines, and use it to diagnose the prevalence of scepticism about grounding as deriving, at least in part, from scepticism about non-trivial counterpossible counterfactuals.
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If you would like to have dinner with the speaker on the evening of their talk please contact the LEM convenor, Dr Corine Besson: [email protected]

Spring 2014 Series: http://goo.gl/VjrHTp

Co-convenors: Dr Corine Besson (Sussex) and Robert Bassett.