Lewisian-Style Counterfactual Analysis of Causation: A New Solution to the Overdetermination Problem

Organon F: Medzinárodný Časopis Pre Analytickú Filozofiu 17 (4):461-476 (2010)
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Abstract

Causal overdetermination – i.e. instances in which x, y, and z all occur and intuitively the occurrence of x alone is sufficient for the occurrence of z and the occurrence of y alone is sufficient for the occurrence of z – has long been considered a problem for counterfactual analyses of causation. Intuitively, we want to say both x and y caused z, but standard Lewisian counterfactual analysis yields the result that neither x nor y caused z. David Lewis, himself, suggested that overdetermination ought to be left as “spoils to the victor”. I show how, if we modify Lewis’ account of events slightly, we can bring counterfactual analysis in line with our intuitions about overdetermination

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Dana Goswick
University of Melbourne

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References found in this work

Supervenience and mind: selected philosophical essays.Jaegwon Kim - 1993 - New York, NY, USA: Cambridge University Press.
Causation.David Lewis - 1986 - In Philosophical Papers, Volume II. New York, US: Oxford University Press. pp. 159-213.
Mind in a Physical World.Jaegwon Kim - 1998 - Philosophy 75 (291):131-135.
Mind in a Physical World.Jaegwon Kim - 2001 - Noûs 35 (2):304-316.
Postscripts to `causation'.David Lewis - 1986 - In Philosophical Papers, Volume II. New York, US: Oxford University Press.

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