Causation: Science, Statistics and Metaphysics

Author:   David Papineau (King's College London)
Publisher:   Cambridge University Press
ISBN:  

9781009703352


Pages:   300
Publication Date:   31 October 2026
Format:   Hardback
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
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Causation: Science, Statistics and Metaphysics


Overview

Most philosophical work on causation is divorced from scientific practice, but in this book David Papineau develops a metaphysical theory designed to provide a principled grounding for the science of causal inference. The book first introduces non-specialists to the techniques of causal inference, and then shows how the resulting theory can account for all aspects of causation. While Papineau draws on a wide range of scientific and philosophical sources, everything is explained from first principles and will be accessible to readers from all backgrounds. The resulting theory marks a new departure in the philosophy of causation, and will be of interest not only to philosophers but also to anybody interested in the statistical techniques that are widely used throughout science to analyse causal structures.

Full Product Details

Author:   David Papineau (King's College London)
Publisher:   Cambridge University Press
Imprint:   Cambridge University Press
ISBN:  

9781009703352


ISBN 10:   1009703358
Pages:   300
Publication Date:   31 October 2026
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

Table of Contents

1. Overview plus analytic table of contents; 2. Causes from correlations; 3. Probabilistic theories of causation; 4. Structural equations and the bridge principles; 5. Causal and thermodynamic asymmetry; 6. Error terms and independent mechanisms; 7. Token causation; 8. The practical importance of generic causal claims; 9. Indeterminism; 10. Causation and rational action; Personal postscript; References; Index.

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Author Information

David Papineau is Professor of Philosophy at King's College London and a fellow of the British Academy. He is the author of The Metaphysics of Sensory Experience (2021), Knowing the Score: How Sport teaches us about Philosophy (and Philosophy about Sport) (2017) and many other books.

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Latest Reading Guide

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