Causation is an asymmetric relation-if C causes E, then E does not cause C. In this thesis I will argue that 1) two major theories of causation, i.e. the regularity theory and the counterfactual theory, cannot adequately account for causal asymmetry; 2) causal asymmetry consists in the explanatory asymmetry between cause and effect; and 3) generally, the notion of causation is dependent on the notion of explanation, or, in other words, explanation sets a conceptual constraint on causation. In reaching these conclusions, issues about simultaneous causation, backwards causation and absence causation will also be discussed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:552984 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Tang, Zhiheng |
| Publisher | University of Reading |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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