Ideas of Stathis Psillos, by Theme

[Greek, b.1965, Formerly at the London School of Economics, then at the University of Athens]

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2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 1. On Reason
4767 Traditionally, rational beliefs are those which are justified by reasons
5. Theory of Logic / K. Features of Logics / 10. Monotonicity
4810 Valid deduction is monotonic - that is, it remains valid if further premises are added
7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 6. Criterion for Existence
4768 The 'epistemic fallacy' is inferring what does exist from what can be known to exist
8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 5. Natural Properties
14933 Scientific properties are defined by the laws that embody them [Ladyman/Ross]
8. Modes of Existence / C. Powers and Dispositions / 2. Powers as Basic
17996 Powers are claimed to be basic because fundamental particles lack internal structure
14. Science / A. Basis of Science / 4. Prediction
4808 If we say where Mars was two months ago, we offer an explanation without a prediction
4807 A good barometer will predict a storm, but not explain it
14. Science / C. Induction / 4. Reason in Induction
4811 Induction (unlike deduction) is non-monotonic - it can be invalidated by new premises
14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / a. Types of explanation
4812 Explanation is either showing predictability, or showing necessity, or showing causal relations
14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / e. Lawlike explanations
4802 Just citing a cause does not enable us to understand an event; we also need a relevant law
4804 The 'covering law model' says only laws can explain the occurrence of single events
4805 If laws explain the length of a flagpole's shadow, then the shadow also explains the length of the pole
14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / g. Causal explanations
4395 There are non-causal explanations, most typically mathematical explanations
4806 An explanation can just be a 'causal story', without laws, as when I knock over some ink
14. Science / D. Explanation / 4. Explanation Doubts / a. Explanation as pragmatic
4404 Maybe explanation is entirely relative to the interests and presuppositions of the questioner
4803 An explanation is the removal of the surprise caused by the event
15. Nature of Minds / C. Capacities of Minds / 9. Perceiving Causation
4769 It is hard to analyse causation, if it is presupposed in our theory of the functioning of the mind
22. Metaethics / A. Value / 1. Nature of Value / b. Fact and value
4770 Nothing is more usual than to apply to external bodies every internal sensation which they occasion
26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 1. Causation
4399 Causes clearly make a difference, are recipes for events, explain effects, and are evidence
4400 Theories of causation are based either on regularity, or on intrinsic relations of properties
4403 We can't base our account of causation on explanation, because it is the wrong way round
26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 2. Types of cause
4789 Three divisions of causal theories: generalist/singularist, intrinsic/extrinsic, reductive/non-reductive
26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 8. Particular Causation / b. Causal relata
4790 If causation is 'intrinsic' it depends entirely on the properties and relations of the cause and effect
26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / b. Nomological causation
4402 Empiricists tried to reduce causation to explanation, which they reduced to logic-plus-a-law
26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / c. Counterfactual causation
4774 Counterfactual claims about causation imply that it is more than just regular succession
26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 3. Laws and Generalities
4793 "All gold cubes are smaller than one cubic mile" is a true universal generalisation, but not a law
26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 4. Regularities / a. Regularity theory
4397 Regularity doesn't seem sufficient for causation
4792 A Humean view of causation says it is regularities, and causal facts supervene on non-causal facts
4801 The regularity of a cock's crow is used to predict dawn, even though it doesn't cause it
4401 It is not a law of nature that all the coins in my pocket are euros, though it is a regularity
26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 4. Regularities / b. Best system theory
4796 Laws are sets of regularities within a simple and strong coherent system of wider regularities
26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / e. Anti scientific essentialism
4799 Dispositional essentialism can't explain its key distinction between essential and non-essential properties
26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 9. Counterfactual Claims
4780 In some counterfactuals, the counterfactual event happens later than its consequent
4791 Counterfactual theories say causes make a difference - if c hadn't occurred, then e wouldn't occur