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In Mellor's equally distributed world, there is no fact o... — Carmelics

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Supports→In Mellor's G&H world with equally distributed chains, there can be no causal relationship between the individual b and the individual a.

In Mellor's equally distributed world, there is no fact of the matter about which chain type connects individual b to individual a, so no determinate causal process is identifiable.

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1 reason against

Reasons For

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Reason for

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1.Causal facts require asymmetric physical differences to ground directional claims between events.
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2.Equal distribution eliminates the physical basis for distinguishing b→a from a→b causal orderings.
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3.Without determinate grounding, there is no fact of the matter—only conventional labeling of symmetric relations.
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Reasons Against

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Reason against

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1.Causal chains can be multiply realizable; symmetry in one distribution doesn't eliminate all physical differentiation.
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2.Indeterminacy of *which* chain type obtains differs from indeterminacy of *whether* causal connection exists at all.
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3.Equal probability distributions over causal structures still ground objective facts about the causal dependency relationship.
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Key Terms

Fact of the matter(whether there is a definitive fact determining correct interpretation): An objective truth that exists independently—something that is actually the case, rather than a matter of opinion or interpretation.
Mellor(as a reference to a specific philosopher): D.H. Mellor is a British philosopher who wrote influential work on the nature of time and causation.
causal process(used in philosophy of causation): A series of events where one thing happens because of another, like dominoes falling in a line where each one knocks down the next.
chain type(describing different ways causal connections can be organized): A pattern or category of connected events that form a cause-and-effect sequence from one thing to another.
determinate(Contrasted with determinables; taken to be independently posited in the causal/ontological economy): A maximally specific instance of a determinable property (e.g., scarlet as a determinate of red)

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Causation1 linked

Related

Causal chains can be multiply realizable; symmetry in one distribution doesn't e...Causal facts require asymmetric physical differences to ground directional claim...Equal distribution eliminates the physical basis for distinguishing b→a from a→b...Equal probability distributions over causal structures still ground objective fa...

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In Mellor's G&H world with equally distributed chains, there can be no causal re...Indeterminacy of *which* chain type obtains differs from indeterminacy of *wheth...

Details

Type: claim
Perspectives: 2 (1 for, 1 against)
Edits: 1 edit

Without determinate grounding, there is no fact of the matter—only conventional ...