One obvious quibble is to ask whether "A determines the probability density over ..." isn't just a way of substituting the word *determines *for *causes*.
On the other hand, I like this approach. Another way to think about is that changing A results in a change in B (or a change in the probability of B). It's like A is something like a remote control for B. What's especially interesting about this approach is that one is not obligated to show how that change happens -- just that it does. -- Russ Abbott Professor, Computer Science California State University, Los Angeles On Sun, Oct 4, 2020 at 9:06 PM Frank Wimberly <[email protected]> wrote: > No, but Clark Glymour might. > > Seriously though, our working definition of "A causes B" is that the > occurrence of A determines the probability density over the set of > possible values of the occurrence of B. There are many ways to quibble > with this definition but we were able to construct a set of algorithms for > learning causal models (in the form of digraphs) from observational data > notwithstanding the quibbles. > > As I posted recently, Tetrad, the software implementation of those > algorithms, won a SAIL award at the World Artificial Intelligence > Conference. > > --- > Frank C. Wimberly > 140 Calle Ojo Feliz, > Santa Fe, NM 87505 > > 505 670-9918 > Santa Fe, NM > > On Sun, Oct 4, 2020, 9:42 PM <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Frank, >> >> >> >> Causality is one of the great cesspools of philosophy, and I am in no >> position to pump it. For one thing, it seems to me that causality >> statements are classic instances of category errors. We speak of event A >> causing event B, but, whenever we do, we are adverting to evidence that >> shows that Events of Class A have been necessary or sufficient conditions >> for event of Class B. So, like any things, causality lives at a higher >> level of organization than that to which we normally attribute it. We can >> say that a single event of B following A is consistent with causality, but >> we probably should be careful never to say that event A caused event B. >> After all, this instance of B following A, could always, conceivably, be a >> coincidence. >> >> >> >> I would love to know what your collaborators think of that assertion. Is >> this the kind of thing that George Duncan could dope-slap me about? >> >> >> >> Nick >> >> >> >> >> >> Nicholas Thompson >> >> Emeritus Professor of Ethology and Psychology >> >> Clark University >> >> [email protected] >> >> https://wordpress.clarku.edu/nthompson/ >> >> >> >> >> >> *From:* Friam <[email protected]> *On Behalf Of *Frank Wimberly >> *Sent:* Sunday, October 4, 2020 9:21 PM >> *To:* The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group < >> [email protected]> >> *Subject:* Re: [FRIAM] Shorthands for Brain-stuff >> >> >> >> Having worked in the field of causal reasoning for many years I am >> inclined to say that every event is both a cause and an effect. But >> perhaps you're using the words differently. >> >> --- >> Frank C. Wimberly >> 140 Calle Ojo Feliz, >> Santa Fe, NM 87505 >> >> 505 670-9918 >> Santa Fe, NM >> >> >> >> On Sun, Oct 4, 2020, 9:11 PM Marcus Daniels <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> >> MGD> In your model intents come from the *l.teleonomicus*, machinery >> that follows the same rules of physics as everything else. >> >> *[NST===>Yes, but not just those laws. <===nst] * >> >> >> >> What other rules? There are rules that override physics? How is that >> lump of goo different from any other lump of goo? >> >> >> >> Marcus >> >> - .... . -..-. . -. -.. -..-. .. ... -..-. .... . .-. . >> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv >> Zoom Fridays 9:30a-12p Mtn GMT-6 bit.ly/virtualfriam >> un/subscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com >> archives: http://friam.471366.n2.nabble.com/ >> FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ >> >> - .... . -..-. . -. -.. -..-. .. ... -..-. .... . .-. . >> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv >> Zoom Fridays 9:30a-12p Mtn GMT-6 bit.ly/virtualfriam >> un/subscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com >> archives: http://friam.471366.n2.nabble.com/ >> FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ >> > - .... . -..-. . -. -.. -..-. .. ... -..-. .... . .-. . > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Zoom Fridays 9:30a-12p Mtn GMT-6 bit.ly/virtualfriam > un/subscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com > archives: http://friam.471366.n2.nabble.com/ > FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ >
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