Causation and Persistence

Michael Tooley's Causation and Persistence tackles fundamental questions about the nature of causation, time, and persistence through philosophical analysis. The work examines competing theories of causation while developing Tooley's own account based on causal laws and relations between states of affairs. The book presents arguments against both Humean and non-Humean approaches to causation, including detailed critiques of regularity theories and counterfactual analyses. Tooley constructs a sophisticated defense of singular causation and probabilistic causation, addressing key objections and alternative views along the way. Technical discussions of temporal relations, the arrow of time, and the metaphysics of persistence complement the book's treatment of causation. The analysis incorporates insights from physics and probability theory while remaining grounded in rigorous philosophical methodology. This work represents a significant contribution to metaphysics and the philosophy of science, offering a systematic framework for understanding the relationship between causation, time, and the persistence of objects through change.

The book appears to have minimal reader engagement online, with only a handful of reviews available. Readers valued: - Clear explanations of complex concepts around causation - Detailed analysis of Hume's theories and counterfactuals - Systematic approach to breaking down philosophical arguments Common criticisms: - Dense technical writing that can be difficult to follow - Some sections are repetitive - Length could have been reduced without losing key ideas Available Ratings: Goodreads: No ratings or reviews Amazon: 5.0/5 (2 reviews) PhilPapers: 3 citations, no ratings Most reviews come from academic sources rather than general readers. One reviewer on Amazon noted "Tooley provides a detailed defence of a realist view of causation...though the writing can be quite technical at times." The book appears to be read primarily by philosophy students and academics rather than general audiences.

A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume This philosophical work examines causation, necessity, and the foundations of human understanding through empirical observation.

Making Things Happen: A Theory of Causal Explanation by James Woodward The text develops an interventionist account of causation that connects causal relationships to manipulation and control.

Causation: A User's Guide by L.A. Paul and Ned Hall This work systematically examines theories of causation while addressing counterfactuals, preemption, and overdetermination in causal relationships.

Nature's Metaphysics: Laws and Properties by Alexander Bird The book presents a disposition-based theory of natural properties and laws that relates to causal necessity and scientific explanation.

Causation, Physics, and the Constitution of Reality by Huw Price and Richard Corry The text explores the relationship between causation and physics while examining the nature of causal power in physical systems.

🔹 Michael Tooley developed his theory of causation while teaching at the University of Western Australia, where he spent much of his time pondering real-world examples of causation that challenged existing philosophical frameworks. 🔹 The book introduces the concept of "probabilistic causation," which helps explain how causes can increase the probability of their effects without guaranteeing them—a crucial insight for both philosophy and modern scientific thinking. 🔹 Tooley's work directly challenges David Hume's influential view that causation is merely constant conjunction, arguing instead for a more robust metaphysical connection between causes and effects. 🔹 The ideas presented in "Causation and Persistence" have significant implications for quantum mechanics and how we understand indeterminacy at the quantum level. 🔹 The book's exploration of persistence through time has influenced debates in contemporary metaphysics about personal identity and how objects maintain their identity despite changing over time.