Course Identification

In the course, we will discuss the concept of causality, its development in philosophy, and its centrality in science. We will also talk about causality and intuitive thinking, when things start to get complicated and people find it difficult to understand causality, and how complexity can be bridged through education (whether it is necessary to bridge, when, and why). Students will engage in thinking about causality in relation to their own research, anticipate difficulties that outsiders may have in understanding it, and explore ways to assist them.

Students will understand the inherent complexity of the concept of causality and the challenges this concept poses to laypeople. They will be able to identify the four problems of causality and assign different information to each. Students will use these four problems as a perspective to reflect on their own research and the research of others

Our course will be based on the following literature (students will not be asked to read these as part of the course):

Illari, P., & Russo, F. (2014). Causality: Philosophical theory meets scientific practice. OUP Oxford.

Rozenblit, L., & Keil, F. (2002). The misunderstood limits of folk science: An illusion of explanatory depth. Cognitive science, 26(5), 521-562.

Craver, C. F., & Darden, L. (2013). In search of mechanisms: Discoveries across the life sciences. University of Chicago Press.

Pearl, J., & Mackenzie, D. The Book of Why.