Reichenbach’s Paradise: Constructing the Realm of Probabilstic Common “Causes”

Leszek Wronski

Open Access Published by De Gruyter Open Poland 2014

Reichenbach’s Paradise

Constructing the Realm of Probabilstic Common “Causes”

REICHENBACH’S PARADISE Constructing the Realm of Probabilistic Common Causes

Leszek Wronski

https://doi.org/10.2478/9783110372717

Overview
Contents

About this book

Since its introduction by Hans Reichenbach, many philosophers have claimed to refute the idea – known as the common cause principle – that any surprising correlation between any two factors that do not directly influence one another is due to some common cause. For example, falsity of the principle is frequently inferred from falsifiability of Bell’s inequalities. The author demonstrates, however, that the situation is not so straightforward. There is more than one version of the principle formulated with the use of different variants of Reichenbach-inspired notions; their falsity still remains an open question.
The book traces different formulations of the principle and provides proofs of a few pertinent theorems, settling the relevant questions in various probability spaces. In exploring mathematical and philosophical issues surrounding the principle, the book offers both philosophical insight and mathematical rigor.

Philosophy of Physics, Causal Inference in Quantum Physics, Probabilistic Causation

Author / Editor information

Leszek Wroński is an Assistant Professor at the Jagiellonian University, Kraków. He specializes in philosophy of probability.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	I
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	VII
List of Figures / List of Tables Publicly Available Download PDF	IX
Acknowledgments / Introduction Publicly Available Download PDF	X
1 The Principle of the Common Cause: Its Shapes and Content Publicly Available Download PDF	1
2 Screening Off and Explanation: Formal Properties Publicly Available Download PDF	30
3 The Principle of the Common Cause and the Bell Inequalities Publicly Available Download PDF	44
4 The Principle of the Common Cause and the Causal Markov Condition Publicly Available Download PDF	63
5 Causal Closedness Publicly Available Download PDF	70
6 Causal Completability Publicly Available Download PDF	96
Conclusion Publicly Available Download PDF	105
Bibliography Publicly Available Download PDF	108
Index Publicly Available Download PDF	112

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter Open Poland
Audience: Philosophers and Historians of Science; Philosophers of Quantum Physics and Causal Inference; Students
Pages
- Front matter: 12
- Main content: 113
Illustrations
- Illustrations: 5
- Tables: 1
Keywords: Common Cause Principle; Reichenbach; Probability; Causality

eBook

Published: September 1, 2014
ISBN: 9783110372717

Hardcover

Published: August 27, 2014
ISBN: 9783110372700