Causalism

Carolina Sartorio (University of Arizona)

Title: Causalism

Abstract: “Causalism” is sometimes used to pick out the leading conception of action. On this view, having a certain kind of causal history—one that includes the relevant mental events or states—is what makes a behavior an action. In this talk I sketch and motivate a form of causalism that goes beyond the basic causalist view in that it also covers free action. According to “big picture” causalism, having the relevant kind of causal history is both what makes a behavior an action and what makes it a free action. This central thesis provides the skeleton of the view. But I then discuss possible enrichments of the view that focus on the grounds of the relevant causal facts. In particular, I lay out a version of a powers-enriched causalism.

This event will be held over Zoom. To receive the link and password, please register at https://acu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0of-CtpjsvGd12l54Z5425P86BlCZUh5cC. For any questions, please email [email protected].