Abstracta Are Causal

Philosophia 48 (1):133-142 (2020)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Many philosophers think all abstract objects are causally inert. Here, focusing on novels, I argue that some abstracta are causally efficacious. First, I defend a straightforward argument for this view. Second, I outline an account of object causation—an account of how objects cause effects. This account further supports the view that some abstracta are causally efficacious.

Other Versions

No versions found

Analytics

Added to PP
2019-04-12

Downloads
368 (#75,972)

6 months
112 (#49,337)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

David Friedell
Union College

Citations of this work

Artifactualization without Physical Modification.Tim Juvshik - 2021 - Res Philosophica 98 (4):545-572.
Platonism in Metaphysics.Markn D. Balaguer - 2016 - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy 1 (1):1.
Authorship and Creation.Nurbay Irmak - 2021 - Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 79 (2):175-185.
Creating abstract objects.David Friedell - 2021 - Philosophy Compass 16 (10):e12783.

View all 15 citations / Add more citations

References found in this work

Supervenience and mind: selected philosophical essays.Jaegwon Kim - 1993 - New York, NY, USA: Cambridge University Press.
Objects and Persons.Trenton Merricks - 2001 - New York: Oxford University Press.
Mathematical truth.Paul Benacerraf - 1973 - Journal of Philosophy 70 (19):661-679.
Fiction and Metaphysics.Amie L. Thomasson - 1998 - New York: Cambridge University Press.

View all 48 references / Add more references