Comment On Hausman & Woodward On The Causal Markov Condition
BibTeX
@MISC{Steel_commenton,
author = {Daniel Steel},
title = {Comment On Hausman & Woodward On The Causal Markov Condition},
year = {}
}
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Abstract
Hausman & Woodward present an argument for the Causal Markov Condition (CMC) on the basis of a principle they dub ‘modularity ’ ([1999, 2004]). I show that the conclusion of their argument is not in fact the CMC but a substantially weaker proposition. In addition, I show that their argument is invalid and trace this invalidity to two features of modularity, namely, that it is stated in terms of pairwise independence and ‘arrow-breaking ’ interventions. Hausman & Woodward’s argument can be rendered valid through a reformulation of modularity, but it is doubtful that the argument so revised provides any substantially new insight regarding the basis of the CMC.
Citations
| 766 | Causality: Models, reasoning, and inference - Pearl - 2001 |
| 29 | Causal Asymmetries - Hausman - 1998 |
| 13 | Automated discovery of linear feedback models - Richardson, Spirtes - 1999 |
| 2 | 2004]: ‘Modularity and the Causal Markov Condition: A - Hausman, D, et al. |
| 2 | Indeterminism and the Causal Markov Condition - Steel - 2005 |
| 1 | Department of Philosophy 503 S. Kedzie Hall Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48824-1032 steel@msu.edu Cartwright - Steel |
| 1 | 2000]: Causation - Spirtes, Glymour, et al. |
| 1 | 2003]: Elementary Probability, 2 nd edition - Stirzaker |
