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The Asymmetry of Causality: A Realist Solution
Author(s) -
McBreen Bernard
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
philosophical investigations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.172
H-Index - 14
eISSN - 1467-9205
pISSN - 0190-0536
DOI - 10.1111/phin.12174
Subject(s) - causality (physics) , argument (complex analysis) , epistemology , asymmetry , meaning (existential) , philosophy , realism , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , biochemistry , chemistry
How do we distinguish between cause and effect? The main argument of this paper is that if a realist account of the meaning of causal statements is adopted, then two clear distinctions between cause and effect emerge. By realist account is meant conceiving a cause as something with a power to act. Since a realist approach to causality is not widely accepted among philosophers, two arguments against a realist approach to causality are countered. The asymmetry of causality is defended against the claim that physics, in the main, describes a symmetrical universe.