Causal Arguments

CAUSAL REASONING CAUSAL ARGUMENTS The main task of a causal argument is to establish a causal hypothesis by distinguishing causally related events from mere correlations. The Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc fallacy occurs in a causal argument when the only support given for the conclusion that event X causes y is the fact that x and y are correlated. What makes it a fallacy is the fact that there are three other possibilities for the relationship between the correlated events. A causal argument is an argument which has a causal statement as a conclusion. It is usually an inductive argument in that the truth of the premises does not guarantee the truth of the conclusion. CAUSAL ARGUMENT STRUCTURE Causal arguments usually have the following structure: (1) A correlation premise that claims the existence of a correlation between two events or states of affairs. (2) Either (a) a plausible causation story or (b) an elimination premise that seeks to prove that X causes Y by seeking to exclude the other three possible relationships between X and Y. A plausible causation story is a plausible explanation of the specific relationship between X and Y. Plausible causation stories can be used to substantiate the idea that X causes Y (thus substituting for elimination premises). For example, we could use a plausible causation story to argue that exercise prevents colds by saying that exercise stimulates the immune 1 system, which prevents colds. Or we can use plausible causation stories to argue for a part of the elimination premise. For example, we The first type of causal argument tries to establish a singular causal claim, either directly (via plausible causation story or causal study results) or by using an elimination premise (which can be supported via plausible causation story or causal study results). Causal Argument Form 1 Premise 1: X is correlated with Y (this could be backed up by data) Premise 2: Either a plausible causation story or an elimination premise of the form, likely, X and Y do not have a common cause, X and Y are not coincidental, and Y does not cause X. Conclusion: Therefore, X causes Y (a singular causal statement). A second type of causal argument reasons from general causal statements to singular causal statements. Causal Argument Form 2 Premise 1: Events of kind X tend to cause events of kind Y (a general causal statement). Conclusion: Therefore, event X causes event Y (a singular causal statement). A third type of causal argument attempts to show that X does not cause Y, by arguing for a different relationship between the correlated events X and Y. 2 Causal Argument Form 3 Premise 1: X is correlated with Y Premise 2: Likely, X and Y have a common cause, X and Y are coincidental, or Y causes X. Conclusion: Therefore, X does not cause Y (a singular causal statement). Plausible causation stories can play a role in this type of argument as well. For example, we can use a plausible causation story to argue that X (depression) and Y (diabetes) have a common cause by explaining how both might be caused by a certain genetic trait combined with environmental factors. CREATING A STRUCTURE FOR A CAUSAL ARGUMENT 1. Identify and restate the correlation premise. (This might be backed up with some kind of data.) 2. Identify the author’s argument in favor of X causing Y, either (1) a general causal statement that events of X tend to cause Y (studies might be used to back this up), or (2) a plausible causation story to explain why X causes Y or (3) an elimination premise explaining why Y does not cause X, X and Y do not have a common cause, and why X and Y are not coincidental. 3