A theory of structural determination
Journal article
Gallow, J. Dmitri. (2016). A theory of structural determination. Philosophical Studies. 173(1), pp. 159 - 186. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11098-015-0474-5
Authors | Gallow, J. Dmitri |
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Abstract | While structural equations modeling is increasingly used in philosophical theorizing about causation, it remains unclear what it takes for a particular structural equations model to be correct. To the extent that this issue has been addressed, the consensus appears to be that it takes a certain family of causal counterfactuals being true. I argue that this account faces difficulties in securing the independent manipulability of the structural determination relations represented in a correct structural equations model. I then offer an alternate understanding of structural determination, and I demonstrate that this theory guarantees that structural determination relations are independently manipulable. The account provides a straightforward way of understanding hypothetical interventions, as well as a criterion for distinguishing hypothetical changes in the values of variables which constitute interventions from those which do not. It additionally affords a semantics for causal counterfactual conditionals which is able to yield a clean solution to a problem case for the standard ‘closest possible world’ semantics. |
Keywords | structural equations; causation; counterfactuals; interventions |
Year | 2016 |
Journal | Philosophical Studies |
Journal citation | 173 (1), pp. 159 - 186 |
Publisher | Springer Netherlands |
ISSN | 0031-8116 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11098-015-0474-5 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-84953214914 |
Page range | 159 - 186 |
Research Group | Dianoia Institute of Philosophy |
Publisher's version | File Access Level Controlled |
Place of publication | Netherlands |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8v153/a-theory-of-structural-determination
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