Causalism: Unifying Action and Free Action

Carolina Sartorio argues for big-picture causalism, which unifies agency and free agency under a common thesis that actions/free actions have the right kinds of causes or explanations. This view is motivated by causal control and fits together with a causalist view of action. Sartorio examines the skeleton of the causalist view and potential enrichments from exploiting the grounds of causal facts, enriched by an account of key metaphysical notions such as causation, grounding, absences, and powers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 07 September 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

In this comprehensive volume, Carolina Sartorio presents a compelling argument for big-picture causalism, a naturalistic conception of agency and free agency that unifies these two phenomena under a common thesis. This thesis asserts that actions and free actions are behaviors that possess the appropriate causes or explanations. The book delves into the interplay between a causalist view of action and free action, considering the latter as a natural extension of the former. It explores how these two aspects are motivated by similar considerations related to causal control, resulting in a cohesive package deal view of practical agency. Sartorio meticulously examines both the core framework of causalism and potential enhancements that arise from leveraging the grounds of relevant causal facts. The discussion is further enriched by an account of the crucial metaphysical notions such as causation, grounding, absences, and powers that play a pivotal role in causalism. This book offers a thought-provoking exploration of our understanding of agency and free agency, presenting a compelling default view that deserves to be regarded as the starting point of our theorizing.

Weight: 306g
Dimension: 146 x 224 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192874726