Agent Causation, Realist Metaphysics of Powers, and the Reducibility Objection

Philosophia 49 (4):1563-1581 (2021)
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Abstract

To address what I call the “Uniformity”, “Capriciousness”, and “Reducibility” objections, recent agent-causation theories hold that agent-causation is a type of substance causation. Substance causation consists in substances producing effects by exercising or manifesting their powers. Importantly, these versions of agent-causation assume a realist metaphysics of powers, where powers are properties of substances that can exist unmanifested. However, the realist theories of powers that agent-causal theories have relied upon explicitly hold that powers—rather than their substances—are causes. Substances are merely derivative causes, as the bearers of powers. Critics therefore argue that agent-causation is reducible to causation by the agent’s powers. In this paper, I argue that agent-causation is reducible to causation by the agent’s powers only if powers are self-exemplifying properties. I also offer reasons for why powers—especially agent-causal powers—are non-self-exemplifying properties, in support of the irreducibility of agent-causation.

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Davis Kuykendall
George Mason University

Citations of this work

Causers, Causes, and Doers.Robin T. Bianchi - 2024 - Grazer Philosophische Studien 2 (101):118-40.
Action and Active Powers.Robin T. Bianchi - 2024 - Philosophia 53:1-19.

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References found in this work

Actions, Reasons, and Causes.Donald Davidson - 1963 - Journal of Philosophy 60 (23):685.
Physicalism, or Something Near Enough.Jaegwon Kim - 2005 - Princeton University Press.
Getting Causes From Powers.Stephen Mumford & Rani Lill Anjum - 2011 - Oxford, GB: Oxford University Press. Edited by Rani Lill Anjum.
The Universe as We Find It.John Heil - 2012 - Oxford, GB: Oxford University Press.
A Metaphysics for Freedom.Helen Steward - 2012 - Oxford, GB: Oxford University Press.

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