Causal and Non-Causal Theories of Action and Explanation

In this podcast episode, Megan Fritz, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, discusses causal and non-causal theories of action and explanation. She explains that the standard view of action explanation is causal, where actions are explained by citing the causes and reasons behind them. Non-causal views, on the other hand, reject the idea that action explanations primarily rely on citing causes. Megan argues for a non-causal approach to action explanation, emphasizing the use of structural explanations. She proposes that action explanations can be seen as citing activities that partially constitute the action in question, such as the practical syllogism. Megan's view aims to provide truth-apt and genuinely explanatory non-causal action explanations.