PH0112 Theories of Causation

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2016
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Ing. Mgr. Zdeňka Jastrzembská, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Josef Krob, CSc.
Department of Philosophy – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Hana Holmanová
Supplier department: Department of Philosophy – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites (in Czech)
PH1105 Ontology II || PHK1105 Ontology II || PROGRAM(N-PH)|| PROGRAM(N-HS)|| PROGRAM(N-SS)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 10 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to introduce the spectrum of problems that forms the framework of contemporary philosophical discussions of causation. On the one hand, some basic questions will be delineated and analysed. (What is the nature of processes that link causes and effects? It is possible to reduce causal relations to some noncausal ones? What distinguishes the causal processes from the pseudo-processes? It is causal relation given directly in our experience, or it is pure theoretical notion? etc.) On the other hand, the most influential conceptions and approaches to solving these will be presented. Hume’s inquiry into the nature of causation. The tradition that attemts to explain causation as regularity or law. Later attempts to define causation in terms of necessary and/or sufficient conditions. Probabilistic theories of causations developing in connection to quantum physics, that aim to characterize the relationship between cause and effect using the tools of probability theory. Counterfactual theories of causation that appear in connection with the development of possible world semantics. Theories of causal processes and also some singularistic approaches approaching causation as a local matter among individual phenomena. The focus will be on the participation in course work and on the reading. At the end of the course the students should be able to know the basic theories of causation and their major problems, they will understand the inner logic of the discussions on causation and will be able to explain the problems in a wider context.
Syllabus
  • 01. Fundamental problems of philosophy of causation
  • 02. David Hume - epistemology
  • 03. David Hume - (two) definitions of cause
  • 04. Cause as necessary and/or sufficient condition
  • 05. Cause as INUS condition
  • 06. Probabilistic theories of causation
  • 07. Counterfactual theories of causation
  • 08. Theories of causal processes
  • 09. Agency theories of causation
Literature
    required literature
  • JASTRZEMBSKÁ, Zdeňka. Kauzální aspekty vysvětlení (Causal Aspects of Explanation). 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2007, 87 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-4442-5. info
  • NOVOTNÝ, Zdeněk. David Hume a jeho teorie vědění. Olomouc: Votobia, 1999, 213 s. ISBN 80-7198-366-7. info
  • HUME, David. Zkoumání o lidském rozumu. Vyd. v tomto překl. 1. Praha: Svoboda, 1996, 235 s. ISBN 8020505210. info
    recommended literature
  • Causation. Edited by Ernest Sosa - Michael Tooley. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993, viii, 249. ISBN 0-19-875093-5. info
  • Causation and conditionals. Edited by Ernest Sosa. London: Oxford University Press, 1975, vi, 199. ISBN 0198750307. info
  • SMITH, Norman Kemp. The philosophy of David Hume : a critical study of its origins and central doctrines. London: Macmillan and Co., 1941. info
Teaching methods
e-learning
Assessment methods
On-line test consisting of 10 multiple-choice questions. Final paper on selected themes in philosophy of causation.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
Note related to how often the course is taught: e-learning.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: e-learning.
Information about innovation of course.
This course has been innovated under the project "Faculty of Arts as Centre of Excellence in Education: Complex Innovation of Study Programmes and Fields at FF MU with Regard to the Requirements of the Knowledge Economy“ – Reg. No. CZ.1.07/2.2.00/28.0228, which is cofinanced by the European Social Fond and the national budget of the Czech Republic.

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The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2016, recent)
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