Making Things Happen: A Theory of Causal Explanation

by James Woodward

Woodward's long awaited book is an attempt to construct a comprehensive account of causation explanation that applies to a wide variety of causal and explanatory claims in different areas of science and everyday life. The book engages some of the relevant literature from other disciplines, as Woodward weaves together examples, counterexamples, criticisms, defenses, objections, and replies into a convincing defense of the core of his theory, which is that we can analyze causation by appeal to the notion of manipulation.

Genres: Philosophy, Science, Metaphysics

424 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Boris · Rating 3 out of 5]

He starts with what I think is not a good account of the particular kind of causation involved in intervening and manipulating and explains causation in general in terms of this kind of causation. What is wrong is, basically, that he treats causation as a relation between what is represented by variables that take numeric values. But causation is not a relation between values; it is a process.

[Spiroc Gizmatos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exhaustive concerning the issue proposed. Many examples for clarification. Understandable formalization and repetitive patterns of argumentation for better understanding.