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195Bodies of evidence: The ‘Excited Delirium Syndrome’ and the epistemology of cause-of-death inquiryStudies in History and Philosophy of Science 104 (C): 38-47. 2024.“Excited Delirium Syndrome” (ExDS) is a controversial diagnosis. The supposed syndrome is sometimes considered to be a potential cause of death. However, it has been argued that its sole purpose is to cover up excessive police violence because it is mainly used to explain deaths of individuals in custody. In this paper, we examine the epistemic conditions giving rise to the controversial diagnosis by discussing the relation between causal hypotheses, evidence, and data in forensic medicine. We a…Read more
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172Broken brakes and dreaming drivers: the heuristic value of causal models in the lawEuropean Journal for Philosophy of Science 14 (1): 1-20. 2024.Recently, there has been an increased interest in employing model-based definitions of actual causation in legal inquiry. The formal precision of such approaches promises to be an improvement over more traditional approaches. Yet model-based approaches are viable only if suitable models of legal cases can be provided, and providing such models is sometimes difficult. I argue that causal-model-based definitions benefit legal inquiry in an indirect way. They make explicit the causal assumptions th…Read more
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302The Promise of SupersymmetrySynthese 203 (6): 1-21. 2024.Supersymmetry (SUSY) has long been considered an exceptionally promising theory. A central role for the promise has been played by naturalness arguments. Yet, given the absence of experimental findings it is questionable whether the promise will ever be fulfilled. Here, I provide an analysis of the promises associated with SUSY, employing a concept of pursuitworthiness. A research program like SUSY is pursuitworthy if (1) it has the plausible potential to provide high epistemic gain and (2) that…Read more
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404James Woodward: Causation with a Human Face: Normative Theory and Descriptive Psychology (review)Journal for General Philosophy of Science / Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Wissenschaftstheorie 54 (4): 625-629. 2023.
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358Actual Causation and the Challenge of PurposeErkenntnis 1-21. forthcoming.This paper explores the prospects of employing a functional approach in order to improve our concept of actual causation. Claims of actual causation play an important role for a variety of purposes. In particular, they are relevant for identifying suitable targets for intervention, and they are relevant for our practices of ascribing responsibility. I argue that this gives rise to the challenge of purpose. The challenge of purpose arises when different goals demand adjustments of the concept tha…Read more
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400Naturalness and the Forward-Looking Justification of Scientific PrinciplesPhilosophy of Science 90 (5). 2023.It has been suggested that particle physics has reached the "dawn of the post-naturalness era." I provide an explanation of the current shift in particle physicists' attitude towards naturalness. I argue that the naturalness principle was perceived to be supported by the theories it has inspired. The potential coherence between major beyond the Standard Model (BSM) proposals and the naturalness principle led to an increasing degree of credibility of the principle among particle physicists. The a…Read more
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572Actual CausationDissertation, Leibniz Universität Hannover. 2021.In this dissertation I develop a pluralist theory of actual causation. I argue that we need to distinguish between total, path-changing, and contributing actual causation. The pluralist theory accounts for a set of example cases that have raised problems for extant unified theories and it is supported by considerations about the various functions of causal concepts. The dissertation also analyses the context-sensitivity of actual causation. I show that principled accounts of causal reasoning in …Read more
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149Three Concepts of Actual CausationBritish Journal for the Philosophy of Science. forthcoming.I argue that we need to distinguish between three concepts of actual causation: total, path-changing, and contributing actual causation. I provide two lines of argument in support of this account. First, I address three thought experiments that have been troublesome for unified accounts of actual causation, and I show that my account provides a better explanation of corresponding causal intuitions. Second, I provide a functional argument: if we assume that a key purpose of causal concepts is to …Read more
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377Causation and the Problem of DisagreementPhilosophy of Science 88 (5): 773-783. 2021.This article presents a new argument for incorporating a distinction between default and deviant values into the formalism of causal models. The argument is based on considerations about how causal reasoners should represent disagreement over causes, and it is defended against an objection that has been raised against earlier arguments for defaults.
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389The Ethics of Genetic Intervention in Human Embryos: Assessing Jürgen Habermas's ApproachKriterion - Journal of Philosophy 30 (1): 79-95. 2016.In the near future we may be able to manipulate human embryos through genetic intervention. Jürgen Habermas has argued against the development of technologies which could make such intervention possible. His argument has received widespread criticism among bioethicists. These critics argue that Habermas's argument relies on implausible assumptions about human nature. Moreover, they challenge Habermas's claim that genetic intervention adds something new to intergenerational relationships poin…Read more
Dresden, Saxony, Germany
Areas of Specialization
Causation |
Scientific Practice |
Philosophy of Physical Science |
Areas of Interest
Causation |
Scientific Practice |
Philosophy of Physical Science |