Philosophy & Science Forum: Why correlation is not even part of causation

Lise Thoen

The UMB Philosophy & Science Forum starts the 2012 spring program with a lecture by Rani Lill Anjum on why correlation is not a part of causation.

The forum provides an interdisciplinary meeting place for people at UMB to present, discuss and advance topics related to the theory and philosophy of science. Lectures are open for all.

This is a monthly forum where speakers are invited locally, nationally and internationally. There will be time for questions and discussion after the lecture. The PhiSci Forum is organised by CauSci and UMB School of Economics and Business (IØR).

'Why correlation is not even part of causation'

Wednesday January 25. 2012

Rani Lill Anjum is a philosopher working at UMB. Foto: Zafar Anjum

Time: 13.00
Place: Tower Building, UMB, T201

It is widely agreed that correlation is not causation and that we need something more than correlation to get a causal connection. However, most if not all cases of causation are less than perfect correlations. I here argue that causation should be conceptually separated from correlation altogether. An alternative account is offered where a cause is something that tends towards its effect only without guaranteeing it. This represents a radically different account of causation from what has been the orthodox view since David Hume.

Rani Lill Anjum is a philosopher at the UMB School of Economics and Business. She is project director of CauSci – Causation in Science – and co-author of Getting Causes from Powers (Oxford University Press 2011) with Stephen Mumford.

The next seminar will be held Febuary 15. by David Berry.

Please read about the program in detail on the CauSci web pages.

Publisert: 20.01.12
Oppdatert: 20.02.12
Utskriftsvennlig versjon

Del med en venn:

Handelshøyskolen ved UMB

Postboks 5003, 1432 Ås

Tlf.: 6496 5700 | Faks: 6496 5701 | E-post: hh(at)umb.no

Besøksadresse: Tårnbygningen, Christian Magnus Falsensvei 18 (Oversiktskart nr. 31)

Relasjoner til saken

Program, Vitenskapsteoretisk
Causation in Science