Approach

Title: Approach

Abstract: This research proposes new definitions for actual causes and explanations, using structural equations to model counterfactuals. It shows that these definitions yield a plausible and elegant account of causation and explanation, handling examples that have caused problems for other definitions and resolving major difficulties in the traditional account.

Introduction: The concept of actual causality is complex and difficult to define. It is important in various fields, such as law, artificial intelligence, and explanation generation. This paper presents a structural equation-based approach to define actual causality and explanation.

Methodology: The methodology involves using structural equations to model counterfactuals. This approach allows for a precise and useful definition of actual causality.

Results: The results show that the proposed definitions handle difficult examples that have caused problems for other definitions and resolve major difficulties in the traditional account.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the structural equation-based approach provides a plausible and elegant account of actual causality and explanation. It handles challenging examples and resolves long-standing difficulties in the field.

Implications: The implications of this research are significant. It provides a clear and practical definition of actual causality and explanation, which can be applied in various fields. It also moves the debate about actual causality to the right arena, encouraging discussion about which model of the world is a better representation.

Link to Article: https://arxiv.org/abs/0011012v1 Authors: arXiv ID: 0011012v1