Kent Where causal dualism comes from Monika Koeppl Causality, Cognition and the Constitution of Scientific Phenomena Department of Philosophy University of Heidelberg

Kent Introduction Causal pluralism is a fashionable idea which may imply various philosophical positions. I focus on causal dualism as the claim that Question: How to interpret this claim? Is causal dualism a consistent position in itself? (1) the word ‘cause‘ has two different senses: (a) a cause is something that is connected to the effect; (b) a cause is something that makes a difference to the effect; (2) both senses cannot be accomodated within one unified framework, but are equally legitimate explications of the concept of causation.

Kent Overview Conceptual analysis Hall‘s argument The price of making causal dualism a consistent claim Where causal dualism comes from Conclusion

Kent Conceptual analysis Assumptions: 1.There is only one answer to causation ‘in the objects‘. 2.Causation ‘in the objects‘ and our way of talking about it are interrelated. Conceptual analysis Causation ‘in the objects‘ Causation as we talk and think about it

Kent Hall‘s argument Negative causation: e.g. “The failure of the alarm clock is the cause for Billy‘s delay.“ Overdetermination: e.g. “Suzy‘s rock is the cause for the broken bottle (even if Billy‘s would have broken the bottle, too).“ Intuitive causal judgements A cause is something that makes a difference to the effect (dependence view). A cause is something that is connected to the effect (production view).  Two concepts of causation.

Kent The price of making causal dualism a consistent claim Solution A: The two concepts represent two kinds of causal relationships in the world.  departs from the assumption that there is only one answer to causation ‘in the objects‘. Solution B: Causal dualism is a mere psychological statement. BUT: Why should we have developed two notions of causation? What about the implications for causation ‘in the objects‘?

Kent Interventionist theory of causation (Woodward) Method: Conceptual analysis with a special focus on epistemic and pragmatic aspects (i.e. How do we know about causal relationships? Why do we care about causal relationships?)  A causal relation is a relation between variables that are correlated under intervention.  Inclusion of negative causation, but exclusion of e.g. variables with only one value Where causal dualism comes from Theory of physical causation (Salmon, Dowe) Method: Empirical analysis of causation ‘in the objects‘ with primary justification drawn from empirical sciences (physics)  Causal processes are more fundamental than cause-effect- relationships.  Exclusion of negative causation as genuine causation Philosophical explication of the production view and the dependence view

Kent Theory of physical causation e.g. defines necessary and sufficient conditions for what should be called a cause-effect- relationship. The project is based on the assumption that empirical sciences might tell us something about causation ‘in the objects‘ which is independent of our way of thinking about causation. Interventionist theory e.g. holds that the truth of a causal relationship depends on objective facts of the world (once the variables are fixed). The project is based on scepticism with regard to the prospects of a reductive analysis of causation. Common assumption: Our way of talking about causation and causation ‘in the objects‘ are interrelated. Why this way? ?

Kent Where causal dualism comes from Solution C: The two concepts represent two ways of tackling the philosophical problem of causation. Which of the two ways is chosen depends on the author‘s conviction whether empirical sciences might yield independent insight about causation ‘in the objects‘ or not. As one cannot be sceptical and non-sceptical at the same time, both theories cannot be defended seriously at once. Therefore, causal dualism is not a consistent position. Causal dualism is an artefact of conceptual analysis which ignores these diverging convictions.

Kent But... Do these methodological discussions explain why we seem to endorse both views in our intuitive causal judgements? Yes, because.. … the dependence view is the default view of thinking and talking about causation. As soon as we reach the limits of the dependence view (as in cases of overdetermination), we ‘switch‘ to another perspective. The nonsceptical intuition is part of our everyday convictions and is called for when needed.

Kent Conclusion There are three ways of interpreting causal dualism. Causal dualism might be 1. a guide to two kinds of causal relationships in the world; 2. a mere psychological statement; 3. an artefact of conceptual analysis. The first two interpretations challenge the assumptions on which conceptual analysis is founded. The third interpretation challenges conceptual analysis itself.

Kent Thank you!