Single Idea 22902

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / c. Counterfactual causation]

Full Idea

To say that a reaction requires the earlier presence of an action just raises anew the question of why it is 'required' if it isn't bring about the reaction.

Gist of Idea

Why does an effect require a prior event if the prior event isn't a cause?

Source

Adrian Bardon (Brief History of the Philosophy of Time [2013], 4 'Pervasive')

Book Reference

Bardon,Adrian: 'Brief History of the Philosophy of Time' [OUP 2013], p.99


A Reaction

This is another example of my demand that empiricists don't just describe and report conjunctions and patterns, but make some effort to explain them.