
Probabilistic Causality
Ellery Eells(Author)
Cambridge University Press
Published on 29. March 1991
Book
Hardback
428 pages
978-0-521-39244-0 (ISBN)
Description
In this important book, Ellery Eells explores and refines philosophical conceptions of probabilistic causality. In a probabilistic theory of causation, causes increase the probability of their effects rather than necessitate their effects in the ways traditional deterministic theories have specified. Philosophical interest in this subject arises from attempts to understand population sciences as well as indeterminism in physics. Taking into account issues involving spurious correlation, probabilistic causal interaction, disjunctive causal factors, and temporal ideas, Professor Eells advances the analysis of what it is for one factor to be a positive causal factor for another. A salient feature of the book is a theory of token level probabilistic causation in which the evolution of the probability of a later event from an earlier event is central. This will be a book of crucial significance to philosophers of science and metaphysicians; it will also prove stimulating to many economists, psychologists, and physicists.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
842 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-39244-0 (9780521392440)
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Schweitzer Classification
Content
Preface; Introduction; 1. Populations and probability; 2. Spurious correlation and probability increase; 3. Causal interaction and probability increase; 4. Causal intermediaries and transitivity; 5. Temporal priority, asymmetry, and some comparisons; 6. Token-level probabilistic causationl Appendixes; Bibliography; Index.