Actual Causation and the Challenge of Purpose

Bibliographic Data

ID21461674
AuthorsEnno Fischer (0000-0003-3758-4655, Ruhr University Bochum, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume89
Issue7
Pages2925-2945
Publication date2024-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueErkenntnis (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0165-0106 • E-ISSN: 1572-8420
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s10670-023-00660-z
OpenAlexW4319811992
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited43

This paper explores the prospects of employing a functional approach in order to improve our concept of actual causation. Claims of actual causation play an important role for a variety of purposes. In particular, they are relevant for identifying suitable targets for intervention, and they are relevant for our practices of ascribing responsibility. I argue that this gives rise to the challenge of purpose . The challenge of purpose arises when different goals demand adjustments of the concept that pull in opposing directions. More specifically, I argue that a common distinction between certain kinds of preempted and preempting factors is difficult to motivate from an interventionist viewpoint. This indicates that an appropriately revised concept of actual causation would not distinguish between these two kinds of factors. From the viewpoint of retributivist responsibility, however, the distinction between preempted and preempting factors sometimes is important, which indicates that the distinction should be retained

Business · Causation · Economics · Epistemology · Ontology · Computer Science · Epistemology, Ethics, and Metaphysics · Free Will and Agency · Philosophy · Political Philosophy and Ethics · Psychology · Artificial Intelligence