On the Minimization Principle in the Boolean Approach to Causal Discovery

Jiji ZHANG

doi:10.1007/978-981-10-6355-8_5

On the Minimization Principle in the Boolean Approach to Causal Discovery

Jiji ZHANG

Department of Philosophy

Research output: Book Chapters | Papers in Conference Proceedings › Conference paper (invited)

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

I examine the role of minimization in the Boolean approach to causal discovery, focusing on a recent development of the approach, implemented in a method called Coincidence Analysis (CNA). I present some prima facie counterexamples to the soundness of the minimization steps in CNA, or to the validity of a minimization principle that is naturally suggested by the minimization steps. I discuss two possible responses to the challenge, and argue that while one (but not the other) of them is viable, it renders the role of minimization steps inessential in an important sense. I end by suggesting that the trouble with the minimization principle arises out of locally uninstantiated regularities that regularity theorists have no reason to dismiss.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Philosophical logic : current trends in Asia : Proceedings of AWPL-TPLC 2016
Editors	Syraya Chin-Mu YANG, Kok Yong LEE, Hiroakira ONO
Publisher	Springer
Pages	79-94
Number of pages	16
ISBN (Print)	9789811063541
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6355-8_5
Publication status	Published - 2017
Event	The 3rd Asian Workshop on Philosophical Logic (AWPL-2016) - National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, China Duration: 8 Oct 2016 → 8 Oct 2016

Publication series

Name	Logic in Asia: Studia Logica Library
Publisher	Springer Singapore
ISSN (Print)	2364-4613

Conference

Conference	The 3rd Asian Workshop on Philosophical Logic (AWPL-2016)
Country/Territory	Taiwan, China
City	Taipei
Period	8/10/16 → 8/10/16

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

Funding

This research was supported in part by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong under the General Research Fund LU13600715, and by a Faculty Research Grant from Lingnan University.

Access to Document

10.1007/978-981-10-6355-8_5

Cite this

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title = "On the Minimization Principle in the Boolean Approach to Causal Discovery",

abstract = "I examine the role of minimization in the Boolean approach to causal discovery, focusing on a recent development of the approach, implemented in a method called Coincidence Analysis (CNA). I present some prima facie counterexamples to the soundness of the minimization steps in CNA, or to the validity of a minimization principle that is naturally suggested by the minimization steps. I discuss two possible responses to the challenge, and argue that while one (but not the other) of them is viable, it renders the role of minimization steps inessential in an important sense. I end by suggesting that the trouble with the minimization principle arises out of locally uninstantiated regularities that regularity theorists have no reason to dismiss.",

author = "Jiji ZHANG",

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year = "2017",

doi = "10.1007/978-981-10-6355-8\_5",

language = "English",

isbn = "9789811063541",

series = "Logic in Asia: Studia Logica Library",

publisher = "Springer",

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booktitle = "Philosophical logic : current trends in Asia : Proceedings of AWPL-TPLC 2016",

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ZHANG, J 2017, On the Minimization Principle in the Boolean Approach to Causal Discovery. in SC-M YANG, KY LEE & H ONO (eds), Philosophical logic : current trends in Asia : Proceedings of AWPL-TPLC 2016. Logic in Asia: Studia Logica Library, Springer, pp. 79-94, The 3rd Asian Workshop on Philosophical Logic (AWPL-2016), Taipei, Taiwan, China, 8/10/16. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6355-8_5

On the Minimization Principle in the Boolean Approach to Causal Discovery. / ZHANG, Jiji.
Philosophical logic : current trends in Asia : Proceedings of AWPL-TPLC 2016. ed. / Syraya Chin-Mu YANG; Kok Yong LEE; Hiroakira ONO. Springer, 2017. p. 79-94 (Logic in Asia: Studia Logica Library).

Research output: Book Chapters | Papers in Conference Proceedings › Conference paper (invited)

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AB - I examine the role of minimization in the Boolean approach to causal discovery, focusing on a recent development of the approach, implemented in a method called Coincidence Analysis (CNA). I present some prima facie counterexamples to the soundness of the minimization steps in CNA, or to the validity of a minimization principle that is naturally suggested by the minimization steps. I discuss two possible responses to the challenge, and argue that while one (but not the other) of them is viable, it renders the role of minimization steps inessential in an important sense. I end by suggesting that the trouble with the minimization principle arises out of locally uninstantiated regularities that regularity theorists have no reason to dismiss.

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Y2 - 8 October 2016 through 8 October 2016

ER -

On the Minimization Principle in the Boolean Approach to Causal Discovery

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

Funding

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Causation, Decision, and Imprecise Probabilities

Cite this

On the Minimization Principle in the Boolean Approach to Causal Discovery

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

Funding

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

Causation, Decision, and Imprecise Probabilities

Cite this