Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
*Can causation be explained without causation itself?*
Michael Tooley reviews major reductionist theories—from probabilistic and counterfactual accounts to agency and powers-based approaches—and argues that none fully captures the structure and directionality of causal relations.
0:01 Direct Realism and Immediate Awareness
1:22 Probabilistic Theories of Causation
2:10 Counterfactual Accounts and David Lewis
4:47 Humean Laws and Powers-Based Metaphysics
9:02 Nomological Analysis, Underdetermination, and Agency
*Michael Tooley* is Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the University of Colorado Boulder. He received a Boulder Faculty Assembly Excellence in Research Award in 1998 for his book _Time, Tense, and Causation,_ and is the author of the new book _Causation: A Defense of a Non-Reductionist Approach_ (Oxford, 2026).
*More from Michael Tooley on Closer To Truth:*
* Closer To Truth: The Podcast: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJr3pJl27pLLkP0kHQKL9nZh35UkgkR_
* What Things Really Exist? - CTT Interview Series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJr3pJl27pL23EJxiJggorKB66CHSAU-
* Closer To Truth contributors: closertotruth.com/contributor/michael-tooley
*Subscribe to Closer To Truth:* youtube.com/@CloserToTruthTV
*Join the Community:*
* Membership (5,000+ videos): closertotruth.com/register
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Closer To Truth, created and hosted by Robert Lawrence Kuhn, presents the world's greatest thinkers exploring humanity's deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence and sentience. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.
#CloserToTruth #Cosmos #MichaelTooley #Causation #PhilosophyOfScience
*Can causation be explained without causation itself?*
Michael Tooley reviews major reductionist theories—from probabilistic and counterfactual accounts to agency and powers-based approaches—and argues that none fully captures the structure and directionality of causal relations.
0:01 Direct Realism and Immediate Awareness
1:22 Probabilistic Theories of Causation
2:10 Counterfactual Accounts and David Lewis
4:47 Humean Laws and Powers-Based Metaphysics
9:02 Nomological Analysis, Underdetermination, and Agency
*Michael Tooley* is Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the University of Colorado Boulder. He received a Boulder Faculty Assembly Excellence in Research Award in 1998 for his book _Time, Tense, and Causation,_ and is the author of the new book _Causation: A Defense of a Non-Reductionist Approach_ (Oxford, 2026).
*More from Michael Tooley on Closer To Truth:*
* Closer To Truth: The Podcast: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJr3pJl27pLLkP0kHQKL9nZh35UkgkR_
* What Things Really Exist? - CTT Interview Series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJr3pJl27pL23EJxiJggorKB66CHSAU-
* Closer To Truth contributors: closertotruth.com/contributor/michael-tooley
*Subscribe to Closer To Truth:* youtube.com/@CloserToTruthTV
*Join the Community:*
* Membership (5,000+ videos): closertotruth.com/register
* Audio Podcast: closertotruth.podbean.com
* Support the Show: closertotruth.com/donate
* Official Merchandise: bonfire.com/store/closertotruth
*Follow Us:*
* Facebook: facebook.com/CloserToTruthTV
* Instagram: instagram.com/closertotruth
* X: https://x.com/CloserToTruth
Closer To Truth, created and hosted by Robert Lawrence Kuhn, presents the world's greatest thinkers exploring humanity's deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence and sentience. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.
#CloserToTruth #Cosmos #MichaelTooley #Causation #PhilosophyOfScience
