Philosophers of causation distinguish between two kinds of causation: structural causation and actual causation. Actual causation is the kind of causation that we encounter every day. The sound of an alarm causes us to wake up, the wind causes dead limbs to fall from trees, pressing the gas pedal causes my car to accelerate. Structural causation is the kind of causation that we use to describe policy and generalize. Smoking causes cancer, CO₂ levels cause global warming, wealth inequality causes social unrest.
Structural and Actual Causation
Structural and Actual Causation
Structural and Actual Causation
Philosophers of causation distinguish between two kinds of causation: structural causation and actual causation. Actual causation is the kind of causation that we encounter every day. The sound of an alarm causes us to wake up, the wind causes dead limbs to fall from trees, pressing the gas pedal causes my car to accelerate. Structural causation is the kind of causation that we use to describe policy and generalize. Smoking causes cancer, CO₂ levels cause global warming, wealth inequality causes social unrest.