Overview
This week we'll start our study of James Woodward's book "Causation with a Human Face." This is a recent book that gives some new ideas on how to understand causation. It starts with some methodological considerations and aims to bring the empirical studies of causation to the philosophical reflections on causation.
This week we'll get familiar with the framework for Woodward's theory. The Introduction examines the distinction and the relationship between the normative and the descriptive, the metaphysical and the epistemological. The first chapter outlines his general idea of a proper theory of causation.
In your discussions, you are welcome to address the following questions:
Many philosophers think that there is a clear line to draw between the normative and the descriptive, the metaphysical and the epistemological -- and these concepts in each pair should be clearly distinguished. Yet Woodward challenges this approach and proposes some of his ideas at the beginning of the book. How do you understand these concepts, and what is the proper relation between the normative and the descriptive, the metaphysical and the epistemological? There is no need for a perfect answer -- just thinking about these issues is a good start.
Woodward proposes a functional approach to causation. What does he mean by that? Try to explain as clearly as you can. How do you think of this idea, especially compared with other theories of causation we have learned?