Causation and Explanation (Topics in Contemporary Philosophy) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0262033631 ISBN 13: 9780262033633

Publisher: Bradford Books, 2007

Synopsis

This collection of original essays on the topics of causation and explanation offers readers a state-of-the-art view of current work in these areas. The book is notable for its interdisciplinary character, and the essays, by distinguished authors and important rising scholars, will be of interest to a wide readership, including philosophers, computer scientists, and economists. Students and scholars alike will find the book valuable for its wide-ranging treatment of two difficult philosophical topics.

The volume focuses first on the development of theories of causation and explanation, and then on the application of those theories. Theoretical discussions include Patrick Suppes's investigation of the causal issues surrounding intentional activities such as computation and decision making, and Clark Glymour and Frank Wimberly's analysis of technical issues encountered in formulating an account of actual causation. The essays exploring applications include Nancy Cartwright's examination of the application of counterfactuals to economics and Alfred Mele's criticism of the work of Benjamin Libet on the applicability of experimental results in psychology to philosophical analyses of free will and self-control.

Causation and Explanation offers a remarkably wide-ranging set of essays on two topics that present difficult philosophical issues.

About this title

About the Author

Joseph Keim Campbell is Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Washington State University.

Edition details

• Publisher: Bradford Books
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0262033631
• ISBN 13: 9780262033633
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 315
• Editor: Campbell Joseph Keim, O'Rourke Michael, Silverstein Harry