Two Causal Concepts in Scientific Explanation with Dr. Stephen Esser
Please join us for the IFSA Distinguished Speaker Series with Dr. Stephen Esser.
A primary goal of science is to increase our understanding of the world, often via causal explanations of phenomena. But what is causation? Examination of cases and psychological evidence both point to the existence of two distinct concepts: production and difference-making. These concepts, in turn, are embodied in various explanatory projects. Their applicability in particular contexts needs critical examination, however. I argue that production should play a guiding role in the natural sciences, while difference-making relations, in addition to being pragmatically useful for modeling, become conceptually salient in normative and in teleological or functional contexts (so that both concepts, for instance, may play an apt role in biological explanation). I conclude with suggested implications regarding the search for causes in economics.
Bio:
Stephen Esser received his PhD in Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania in 2018. He is currently the Associate Director of Penn’s Philosophy for the Young Project. Prior to graduate school, Steve had a 27-year career as an investment manager. He received his BS from UD’s Lerner College of Business and Economics in 1985, and presently serves on UD’s Honors Program Advisory Council.
Friday, February 28, 2020 at 10:30am to 12:00pm
One South Main, 120 One South Main Street, Newark, DE 19716