Agent causation, or Agent causality, is an idea in philosophy which states that a being who is not an event—namely an agent—can cause events (particularly the agent's own actions). Agent causation contrasts with event causation, which occurs when an event causes another event.[1][2] Whether agent causation as a concept is logically sound is itself a topic of philosophical debate.[1]
Thomas Reid, developer of the Agent-Causal theory of freedom.
Defenders of this theory include Thomas Reid and Roderick Chisholm. Reid believed that agents are the only beings who have a will, and considered having a will to be a necessary condition of being considered the cause of an event.[3]
Proponentsedit
Thomas Reid is credited as the founder of the theory of agent causation.[4] In Essays on the Active Powers of Man (1788), Reid described an agent as one who has "power over the determinations of his own will."[5] He held that agents are the only beings who have a will, and considered having a will to be a necessary condition of being considered the cause of an event.[3]
Agent causation has been adopted by both compatibilists and incompatibilists alike.[1] Defending a compatibilist interpretation, Ned Markosian proposed a situation in which a person's actions, caused by nothing other than their own agency, have shaped their moral character over their lifetime to compel them to always do the right thing.[6]Roderick Chisholm's incompatibilist view contends that a free action is an action that originates from within the agent alone, not as the result of a prior event.[7] While still subject to debate, agent causation is generally considered to align with incompatibilist theory.[1]
Libertarians have offered agent causation as a defense of their incompatibilist belief that only undetermined, uncaused actions are free.[8] One objection to this belief argues that an undetermined action is one that occurs at random, and freedom does not follow from random, "by chance" action.[9] Agent causation counter-proposes the idea that an action need not be classified as either determined or random, but rather can occur under an agent's control.[10]
^ abRowe, William L. (1991). "Responsibility, Agent-Causation, and Freedom: An Eighteenth-Century View". Ethics. 101 (2): 237–257. doi:10.1086/293287. ISSN 0014-1704. JSTOR 2381862. S2CID 145660090.
^Nichols, Ryan; Yaffe, Gideon (2021), "Thomas Reid", in Zalta, Edward N. (ed.), The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2021 ed.), Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, retrieved 2021-09-21
^Reid, Thomas (1788-01-01), Haakonssen, Knud; Harris, James A (eds.), "Essays on the Active Powers of Man", The Edinburgh Edition of Thomas Reid: Essays on the Active Powers of Man, Edinburgh University Press, p. 1, doi:10.1093/oseo/instance.00106526, ISBN9780748617081, retrieved 2021-09-21
^Markosian, Ned (September 1999). "A Compatibilist Version Of The Theory Of Agent Causation". Pacific Philosophical Quarterly. 80 (3): 257–277. doi:10.1111/1468-0114.00083. ISSN 0279-0750.
^Feldman, Richard; Feldman, Fred (2021), "Roderick Chisholm", in Zalta, Edward N. (ed.), The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2021 ed.), Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, retrieved 2021-09-21
^Goldman, Alvin I.; Nozick, Robert (January 1983). "Philosophical Explanations". The Philosophical Review. 92 (1): 81. doi:10.2307/2184523. JSTOR 2184523.
^Pink, Thomas (2004). Free will : a very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN978-0-19-151806-5. OCLC 77519071.
January 01, 1970
agent, causation, agent, causality, idea, philosophy, which, states, that, being, event, namely, agent, cause, events, particularly, agent, actions, contrasts, with, event, causation, which, occurs, when, event, causes, another, event, whether, agent, causatio. Agent causation or Agent causality is an idea in philosophy which states that a being who is not an event namely an agent can cause events particularly the agent s own actions Agent causation contrasts with event causation which occurs when an event causes another event 1 2 Whether agent causation as a concept is logically sound is itself a topic of philosophical debate 1 Thomas Reid developer of the Agent Causal theory of freedom Defenders of this theory include Thomas Reid and Roderick Chisholm Reid believed that agents are the only beings who have a will and considered having a will to be a necessary condition of being considered the cause of an event 3 Proponents editThomas Reid is credited as the founder of the theory of agent causation 4 In Essays on the Active Powers of Man 1788 Reid described an agent as one who has power over the determinations of his own will 5 He held that agents are the only beings who have a will and considered having a will to be a necessary condition of being considered the cause of an event 3 Agent causation has been adopted by both compatibilists and incompatibilists alike 1 Defending a compatibilist interpretation Ned Markosian proposed a situation in which a person s actions caused by nothing other than their own agency have shaped their moral character over their lifetime to compel them to always do the right thing 6 Roderick Chisholm s incompatibilist view contends that a free action is an action that originates from within the agent alone not as the result of a prior event 7 While still subject to debate agent causation is generally considered to align with incompatibilist theory 1 Libertarians have offered agent causation as a defense of their incompatibilist belief that only undetermined uncaused actions are free 8 One objection to this belief argues that an undetermined action is one that occurs at random and freedom does not follow from random by chance action 9 Agent causation counter proposes the idea that an action need not be classified as either determined or random but rather can occur under an agent s control 10 See also editCausa sui Libertarianism metaphysics Volition Kalam cosmological argumentReferences edit a b c d Agent Causation Bibliography PhilPapers Retrieved 2016 11 23 Agent Causality informationphilosopher com Retrieved 2016 11 23 a b Rowe William L 1991 Responsibility Agent Causation and Freedom An Eighteenth Century View Ethics 101 2 237 257 doi 10 1086 293287 ISSN 0014 1704 JSTOR 2381862 S2CID 145660090 Nichols Ryan Yaffe Gideon 2021 Thomas Reid in Zalta Edward N ed The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Summer 2021 ed Metaphysics Research Lab Stanford University retrieved 2021 09 21 Reid Thomas 1788 01 01 Haakonssen Knud Harris James A eds Essays on the Active Powers of Man The Edinburgh Edition of Thomas Reid Essays on the Active Powers of Man Edinburgh University Press p 1 doi 10 1093 oseo instance 00106526 ISBN 9780748617081 retrieved 2021 09 21 Markosian Ned September 1999 A Compatibilist Version Of The Theory Of Agent Causation Pacific Philosophical Quarterly 80 3 257 277 doi 10 1111 1468 0114 00083 ISSN 0279 0750 Feldman Richard Feldman Fred 2021 Roderick Chisholm in Zalta Edward N ed The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Summer 2021 ed Metaphysics Research Lab Stanford University retrieved 2021 09 21 Libertarianism www informationphilosopher com Retrieved 2021 09 28 Goldman Alvin I Nozick Robert January 1983 Philosophical Explanations The Philosophical Review 92 1 81 doi 10 2307 2184523 JSTOR 2184523 Pink Thomas 2004 Free will a very short introduction Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 151806 5 OCLC 77519071 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Agent causation amp oldid 1221068714, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
