Single Idea 4402

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / b. Nomological causation]

Full Idea

The logical empiricists (esp. Hempel) analysed the concept of causation in terms of causal explanation, and analysed the latter as a species of deductive argument, with one premises stating a universal law (the so-called Deductive-Nomological model).

Clarification

'Nomological' means to do with laws

Gist of Idea

Empiricists tried to reduce causation to explanation, which they reduced to logic-plus-a-law

Source

Stathis Psillos (Causation and Explanation [2002], Intro)

Book Reference

Psillos,Stathis: 'Causation and Explanation' [Acumen 2002], p.10


A Reaction

This feels wrong, as deduction seems insufficiently naturalistic, and the assumption of a law as premise seems to beg heaps of questions.