_Causation and Explanation_ looks like a good book. Strangely, its Amazon paperback price<http://www.amazon.com/Causation-Explanation-Topics-Contemporary-Philosophy/dp/B008SLYJ4G/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=QIM4OPN4IQSS&coliid=I1V01X94UI8MFU> is only $13.52 even though its Amazon Kindle price is $28.80. (I just ordered one of the 3 copies remaining in stock.)
I have no problem with the manipulatist/Baysian/experimentalist/social-studies approach to causation. It's a way to establish a connection between A and B that's stronger than correlation. (More or less: if changing A changes B, then A is a cause of B.) But that doesn't explain how A causes B. It's in that sort of how-explanation that I don't see scientific talk of causation. *-- Russ Abbott* *_____________________________________________* *** Professor, Computer Science* * California State University, Los Angeles* * My paper on how the Fed can fix the economy: ssrn.com/abstract=1977688* * Google voice: 747-*999-5105 Google+: plus.google.com/114865618166480775623/ * vita: *sites.google.com/site/russabbott/ CS Wiki <http://cs.calstatela.edu/wiki/> and the courses I teach *_____________________________________________* On Tue, Mar 26, 2013 at 11:44 AM, glen <g...@ropella.name> wrote: > Victoria Hughes wrote at 03/26/2013 11:27 AM: > > 1. The discussion also references non-European, non-white-male models > for awareness, reality, conceptual modeling, etc. > > 2. The discussion does not devolve into intellectual posturing. > > This reminded me of the Ulam quote: > > "Talking about non-linear mathematics is like talking about non-elephant > zoology." -- Stanislaw Ulam > > I willingly admit my ignorance. But honestly, is there _any_ philosophy > that is not, ultimately, intellectual posturing? ;-) Or, further, is > there any speech/verbiage whatsoever that is not, ultimately, > intellectual posturing? > > I heard from somewhere a speculation that the emergence of human > language replaced (to whatever extent) grooming. If that's at all true, > then I suppose there is some speech ... pillow talk, platitudes, or > perhaps lyricism/poetry that is as much about physics (soothing and > communion) as it is about the ideal of communication or intellect. And > I suppose one might believe (act as if) the expression of an ideal (an > intellectual artifact) via words is somehow authentic as opposed to > posturing. But, when I examine my own behavior in the light of what I > observe from others and vice versa, it's quite difficult to distinguish > between the former (authentic expression) and the latter (posturing). > > But, I also admit my gullibility and naivete. > > -- > =><= glen e. p. ropella > Like it's screwed itself in hell > > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com >
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