In terms of the concept of a working causal route, Hitchcock represent real or token causation on following words:
(10) If c and e are distinct actual events and X and Z are binary variables whose values represent the occurrence and non-occurrence of these events, then c is a cause of e if and only if there is an active causal route from X to Z in an appropriate causal model
Lewis hotel so you can quasi-reliance since smashing of your own package (e) cannot counterfactually believe Suzys throw (c), because of what can has actually happened got she perhaps not tossed (viz, Billys material could have shattered the latest package as an alternative)
As previously mentioned, (10) doesnt handle instances of shaped overdetermination once the when Suzy and you can Billy each other place their rocks separately, for each toss is enough for the bottles to break, and you can both rocks strike the package thus none put preempts brand new other, as the none place is found on an active station since the defined for the (9). To handle such as for example times, Hitchcock weakens (10) by the replacement this new ‘energetic channel when you look at the (10) towards concept of an effective weakly productive channel (2001: 290). Probably the most suggestion right here that there surely is an excellent weakly productive route ranging from X and you may Z just whenever Z counterfactually relies on X beneath the cold of a few you’ll be able to, not necessarily actual, philosophy of the parameters that aren’t toward station out-of X so you can Z. Intuitively, to recuperate counterfactual reliance ranging from Suzys toss in addition to smashing i hold fixed BT = 0: had Suzy maybe not thrown about model in which Billy doesnt put, the fresh new bottles do not have shattered. Also to own Billys throw.
The fundamental approach implemented here to cope with both preemption and you can shaped overdetermination bears a glaring similarity so you’re able to Lewiss quasi-reliance substitute for new later preemption disease. e quasi-utilizes c, but not, because one to in a possible world to your same legislation where the intrinsic profile of procedure off c to help you age is similar however, Billy does not throw, you have the requisite counterfactual reliance. ‘Cold variables which aren’t inherent toward c-age procedure in the its real thinking (in later preemption times) elizabeth.grams. freezing BH from the 0 converts more or less an identical secret. New center differences is the fact Lewiss service comes to appealing to the fresh truth from a completely typical counterfactual (“If the Suzy had not tossed, …”) at the a possible industry in which some actual events (e.grams. Billys struck) don’t exist, since structural-equations solution involves popular with the outcome out-of an effective counterfactual which have yet another particular antecedent (“Got Suzy not thrown and Billys material still not struck, …”). Hitchcock calls these types of ‘clearly nonforetracking (ENF) counterfactuals. (Similarly having symmetrical overdetermination, where i ‘freeze BT on 0 now a non-real well worth to recoup counterfactual dependence ranging from Suzys toss together with smashing.)
5.dos SEF and you can Counterfactuals
Anyone who has pursued this new SEF approach to providing an analysis away from ‘real causation that is, the new causal family relations ranging from genuine, sorts of occurrences have obtained very little to say about the semantics of your own counterfactuals you to underpin SEF. Some article authors (age.grams. Hitchcock 2001) explicitly and some authors implicitly assume a broadly Lewisian approach to counterfactuals, so that the architectural equations was representations from interactions from items throughout the counterfactual dependence given that described over whoever realities standards try generally Lewisian.