The Need for Pluralism of Causality

Paul Weingartner

doi:10.12775/LLP.2016.018

Authors

Paul Weingartner University of Salzburg

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/LLP.2016.018

Keywords

causality, causal explanation, causal sets, causal factors, necessary causes, sufficient causes

Abstract

It will be shown in this article that a pluralism of causality is needed. Not only, as might be expected, for such different domains as natural sciences and humanities, but even within the domain of physics different causal relations are necessary. This will be illustrated with examples from Classical Mechanics and Special Relativity, Thermodynamics and Quantum Mechanics. In these domains causal relations differ in their properties. A model for five types of causal relations is provided that is based on a decidable 6-valued logic.

Author Biography

Paul Weingartner, University of Salzburg

Department of Philosophy

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