Causal reasoning

Question 1

events of one type are followed by events of another type

e.g. excessive alcohol intake causes liver damage

Answer 1

causal claim

Question 2

Mill’s 5 methods are

Answer 2

• method agreement
• method of difference
• joint method of agreement and difference
• method of residue
• method of concomitant variation

Question 3

Method of agreement

Answer 3

look for a common factor present in all the cases in which the effect occurred

Question 4

Method of difference

Answer 4

look at antecedent circumstances when E occurs, and compare these to antecedent circumstances when E fails for occur (contrasting positive and negative instance that are identical except for one factor)

Question 5

Joint method of agreement and difference

Answer 5

there is some agreement, but also 1+ case where proposed cause is not present, and where the effect is also not present

Question 6

Method of residues

Answer 6

If we already know cause, we can subtract that to figure out what causes rest of effect (non-dichotomous, able to quantify)

Question 7

Method of concomitant variation

Answer 7

if quantitative changes in a phenomenon are associated with quantitative changes in another phenomenon then there is likely a causal connection between them
e.g. the more big bang theory I watch, the more angry I become

Question 8

4 limitations of Mill’s methods

Answer 8

1. Don’t say how to determine whether the antecedent circumstances have been properly analysed
   
   • Have to use external knowledge to know what we should be looking for
2. Don’t tell us which antecedent circumstances to investigate
3. Can never provide a certain, demonstrative or conclusive proof of a causal claim
   
   • Problem of induction a logical asymmetry, can’t get to logical proofs
4. Don’t provide a mechanical or automatic way to discover causal connections
   E.g. Why do my feet hurt, methods don’t tell me what to do

Question 9

Are Mill’s methods a generally acceptable method of inductive reasoning?

Answer 9

Yes

Question 10

Advantages of method of concomitant variation

Answer 10

• can be used when we cannot fully eliminate a factor (when method of difference can’t be applied)
• gives more information than just relationship between things e.g. shows how strongly they are related

Question 11

Disadvantage of method of concomitant variation

Answer 11

Direction of causation might not be clear (what causes what)

Question 12

Joint method of agreement and difference gives us

Answer 12

Sufficient and necessary conditions

Question 13

Mill’s methods show…

Answer 13

establish evidence of a causal connection

Question 14

Method of agreement is sufficient/necessary

Answer 14

Sufficient because the common factor is sufficient for the effect to occur, but not known if it is necessary.

Question 15

Method of difference is sufficient/necessary

Answer 15

Necessary because you’re comparing factors so

the factor that is missing when the effect doesn’t happen must be the necessary factor