Causation as a Secondary Quality

Abstract

Introduction. 2. The agency theory: a probabilistic version outlined. 3. Metaphysics confused with epistemology? 4. Unavoidable circularity? 5. Unmanipulable causes? 6. Unacceptable anthropocentricity? 1 INTRODUCTION In this paper we defend the view that the ordinary notions of cause and effect have a direct and essential connection with our ability to intervene in the world as agents. 1 This is a well known but rather unpopular philosophical approach to causation, often called the manipulability theory. In the interests of brevity and accuracy, we prefer to call it the agency theory. 2 Thus the central thesis of an agency account of causation is something like this: an event A is a cause of a distinct event B just in case bringing about the occurrence of A would be an effective means by which a free agent could bring about the occurrence o