Abstract

I argue that the causal relation is context-dependent and present an analysis of causation involving contrasts. On the view I defend, whether one event causes another depends on a contrast situation. My view is motivated by argument and examples. It also deals successfully with an important group of recent puzzles involving absences as causes and effects, preemption, causation under the indeterminism and irreducible probabilities of quantum mechanics, and the intransitivity of causation