Which Kind of Causal Specificity Matters Biologically?
Philosophy of Science 84 (3):574-585 (2017)
Abstract
Griffiths et al. (2015) have proposed a quantitative measure of causal specificity and used it to assess various attempts to single out genetic causes as being causally more specific than other cellular mechanisms, for example, alternative splicing. Focusing in particular on developmental processes, they have identified a number of important challenges for this project. In this discussion note, I would like to show how these challenges can be met.Author's Profile
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10.1086/692148
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Citations of this work
Binding Specificity and Causal Selection in Drug Design.Oliver M. Lean - 2020 - Philosophy of Science 87 (1):70-90.
Causal Selection versus Causal Parity in Biology: Relevant Counterfactuals and Biologically Normal Interventions.Marcel Weber - forthcoming - In Brian J. Hanley & C. Kenneth Waters (eds.), Philosophical Perspectives on Causal Reasoning in Biology. Minnesota Studies in Philosophy of Science. Vol. XXI. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Small RNA research and the scientific repertoire: a tale about biochemistry and genetics, crops and worms, development and disease.Sophie Juliane Veigl - 2021 - History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences 43 (1):1-25.
Causal specificity and the instructive–permissive distinction.Brett Calcott - 2017 - Biology and Philosophy 32 (4):481-505.
References found in this work
Causation in biology: Stability, specificity, and the choice of levels of explanation.James Woodward - 2010 - Biology and Philosophy 25 (3):287-318.
Genetic information: A metaphor in search of a theory.Paul Edmund Griffiths - 2001 - Philosophy of Science 68 (3):394-412.
Measuring Causal Specificity.Paul E. Griffiths, Arnaud Pocheville, Brett Calcott, Karola Stotz, Hyunju Kim & Rob Knight - 2015 - Philosophy of Science 82 (4):529-555.
