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Cats Are Not Peas: A Calico History Of Genetics (Ak Peters Series)
by Laura L. GouldAfter she accidentally adopted a calico cat that turned out to be a male, Laura Gould was seized by curiosity. <P><P>For there to be no male calicos at all would be understandable - it was their extreme rarity that was the puzzle. <P><P>Gould, an expert in linguistics with no previous training in genetics, decided to learn how this could be. <P><P>Her research took her through the great discoveries in genetics, from Mendel's studies of inheritance in peas through the discovery of the chromosome and the role of DNA - all seen from the little-known and unheralded viewpoint of the pivotal role played by cats as experimental subjects in this epic drama. <P><P> Narrated with inimitable grace and wit, this is the story of an unrecognized chapter in the history of science.
Cats React to Outer Space Facts
by Izzi HowellCats React is back for a second instalment! Share in the wonderment of space with a crew of crazy cats and measure your amazement, awe and disgust alongside their furry feline faces!Like every topic, space becomes more interesting when cats are involved. Cats React to Space Facts is an engaging and fun way to understand our universe. It's just purrfect! Bitesize text, fun photos, diagrams, dollops of humour and a react-o-meter all help to make science memorable and fun to learn.This book is a great gift for cat lovers and science students aged 7 and beyond, covering physics in a unique way.
Cats React to Science Facts
by Izzi HowellWINNER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY YOUNG PEOPLE'S BOOK PRIZE 2020Share in the wonderment of science with a crew of crazy cats and measure your amazement, awe and disgust alongside their furry feline faces!Like every topic, science becomes more interesting when cats are involved. Cats React to Science Facts is an engaging and fun way to understand the world of science. It's just purrfect! A vast cast of feline friends take us on a tour of the core areas of science from outer space and the human body, to forces and materials. Bitesize text, fun photos, diagrams, dollops of humour and a react-o-meter all help to make science memorable and fun to learn.This book is a great gift for cat lovers and science students aged 7 and beyond, covering key science topics in a unique way.
Cats React to Science Facts
by Izzi HowellLet´s face it: Like every topic, science becomes more interesting when cats are involved!Every spread of this book introduces a STEM topic related to physical science, biology, astronomy or the human body, and a furry cat uses a scale to determine if the fact is Wow! or No Way! or OMG! Or Gross! Or Mind-Blowing! Packed with key science topics, hilarious jokes, puns and cats, and building on the popularity of online cat videos ... kids will find this book is just purr-fect!
Cats and Conservationists: The Debate Over Who Owns the Outdoors (New Directions in the Human-Animal Bond)
by Anna L. Peterson Dara M. WaldCats and Conservationists is the first multidisciplinary analysis of the heated debate about free-roaming cats. The debate pits conservationists against cat lovers, who disagree both on the ecological damage caused by the cats and the best way to manage them. An impassioned and spirited conflict, it also sheds light on larger questions about how we interpret science, incorporate diverse perspectives, and balance competing values in order to encourage constructive dialogue on contentious social and environmental issues. <p><p>On one side of the cat debate stand many environmentalists, especially birders and conservation organizations, who believe that outdoor cats seriously threaten native wildlife. On the other side are many animal welfare advocates, who believe that outdoor cats generally do not pose a major ecological threat and that it is possible for cats and wildlife to coexist. They believe that it is possible, mainly through trap-neuter-return projects (TNR), to keep free-roaming cat populations in check without killing large numbers of cats. <p><p>Careful analysis suggests that there remain important questions about the science on both cat predation and TNR effectiveness. Yet both sides of the conflict insist that the evidence is clear-cut. This false certainty contributes to conflict between conservationists and cat lovers, and obscures common goals that could generate constructive discussions and collaborative efforts among scientists, policymakers, conservationists, and animal welfare advocates. Cats and Conservationists aims to facilitate such collaboration in order to manage outdoor cats and minimize the damage they cause. It also offers models for constructive debates about the public role of science in other polarized public conflicts over science and environmental topics.
Cats in Question: The Smithsonian Answer Book
by John Seidensticker Art Wolfe Susan LumpkinWhat are cats? How do cats hunt? Do wild cats like catnip? Do cats dream? Cats in Question, a new book in Smithsonian's highly successful "In Question" series, offers authoritative and engaging answers to the thousands of questions about cats that Smithsonian scientists receive annually. All of the world's cats are here, from fearsome predators such as lions and tigers, to mysterious hunters such as leopards and jaguars, to cuddly pets such as domestic cats. More than 100 breathtaking photographs by acclaimed photographer Art Wolfe illustrate the questions on cat facts, cat evolution and diversity, and cats and humans.
Cats vs Dogs: Misbehaving mammals, intellectual insects, flatulent fish and the great pet showdown
by New ScientistInformative, surprising and hilarious, New Scientist tackles questions about the animal kingdom from readers in the magazine's popular 'Last Word' column. This book brings together the best of the bunch:Why do millipedes have so many legs? Will we ever speak dolphin?Do geese always fly in a V formation?And, at long last, a scientific verdict on the ultimate question: cats or dogs?
Cats' Paws and Catapults: Mechanical Worlds of Nature and People
by Steven Vogel Kathryn K. Davis"Full of ideas and well-explained principles that will bring new understanding of everyday things to both scientists and non-scientists alike."--R. McNeill Alexander, Nature Nature and humans build their devices with the same earthly materials and use them in the same air and water, pulled by the same gravity. Why, then, do their designs diverge so sharply? Humans, for instance, love right angles, while nature's angles are rarely right and usually rounded. Our technology goes around on wheels--and on rotating pulleys, gears, shafts, and cams--yet in nature only the tiny propellers of bacteria spin as true wheels. Our hinges turn because hard parts slide around each other, whereas nature's hinges (a rabbit's ear, for example) more often swing by bending flexible materials. In this marvelously surprising, witty book, Steven Vogel compares these two mechanical worlds, introduces the reader to his field of biomechanics, and explains how the nexus of physical law, size, and convenience of construction determine the designs of both people and nature. "This elegant comparison of human and biological technology will forever change the way you look at each."--Michael LaBarbera, American Scientist
Cats: Fun Facts and Amazing Stories (Awesome Animals #2)
by Dianne BatesCats are more than just cute and cuddly pets. They are playful, clever, mysterious and totally awesome! Packed full of incredible true stories, fascinating facts and lots of fun stuff, this books shows just how remarkable our feline friends really are. From stories about cat adventurers, famous cats and spoilt cats to bizarre facts and wacky cat jokes, this book will entertain and make you smile. This gorgeous book also features lots of beautiful illustrations and images of the adorable cats and kittens from Little Legs Pet Rescue
Cattle Welfare in Dairy and Beef Systems: A New Approach to Global Issues (Animal Welfare #23)
by Marie HaskellThis book provides a comprehensive coverage of all aspects of the welfare of cattle. It starts with a consideration of animal welfare science and its application to the management of cattle and moves through to discussions of the challenges and opportunities for providing good welfare for cattle in farming and husbandry systems across the globe. The first section comprises three chapters that discuss the social, behavioural and physiological methods that can be used to assess welfare in cattle. The second section considers the welfare challenges of beef and dairy cattle in extensive and intensive systems. The third section details welfare challenges such as at slaughter, during handling and in the growing period and details solutions such as the use of sensors and application of animal breeding techniques. The final section addresses welfare challenges and solutions in achieving sustainability, in smallholder farms in Africa and new entrant dairying in Asia and cow shelters in India. This work makes a valuable contribution to the field of animal welfare and modern livestock farming. It is a must-read for researchers and students, veterinarians as well as industry personnel and informed farmers and producers.
Cattle, Their Predators and Geomatics Research
by Michael O'Neal CampbellCattle are currently the most important domesticated mammals, with populations numbering in the hundreds of millions and occupying large tracts of land, while the conservation of large mammalian carnivores is becoming a dominant discourse in modern geopolitics, also claiming large portions of the Earth's land surface. Computer-based surveying and communication systems, including geomatics, Big Data and Big Tech, are becoming an essential part of human communication and environmental assessments and are critical to large-scale assessments of land conflicts. A current, critical, potent but neglected issue concerns the measurement of the interfaces of large carnivore and cattle ecologies, in a cross continental format. This book offers a novel approach to the interfaces of the sciences of conservation biology, animal ecology, agricultural development and geomatics, which are increasingly interconnected in modern, global development scenarios. For animal ecology and conservation biology, it is about the management systems that have developed from ecological and human parameters. For agricultural development, topics concern ancestral development, physiological characteristics, ecological requirements, and predation opportunities and conflicts of cattle breeds. For geomatics, the topics concern the image-based and survey-based technologies that enable more critical environmental assessments. The book takes a novel approach by examining the ancestry of cattle, including the aurochs and current wild buffalos, gaur, banteng, yaks, bison, the process of domestication into taurine and indicine cattle, the semi-domestication of yaks and water buffalo, the ecologies of ancestral and modern large carnivores, including bears, big cats and canids, and how the requirements of these large charismatic mammals conflict with the requirements of cattle and agricultural development, in Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, and South America. This integrative approach contributes to the interests of academic researchers, students, practitioners and policy makers, and general readers.
Causal Factors for Wetland Management and Restoration: A Concise Guide (Wetlands: Ecology, Conservation and Management #8)
by Paul A. KeddyThis book presents 12 effective methods to manage wetlands for conservation. It offers a tool box of causal factors that can be used to protect and restore wetlands to enhance biological diversity and other functions. Each causal factor is introduced, briefly explained, and then illuminated with selected examples from around the world.The book provides a prioritized shopping list of methods for protecting and restoring wetlands. The three first and most important causal factors are flooding, fertility, and natural disturbance. Then nine other causal factors are introduced, including herbivory, sedimentation, roads, invasive species, and coarse woody debris. Each causal factor is carefully linked to the scientific literature and explained using the author’s own experience. The same list of 12 causal factors applies around the world—whether you are managing a temperate zone floodplain, a tropical peatland, a freshwater marsh, or a coastal mangrove swamp. Instead of hiring an expensive team of consultants, or pouring through hundreds of scientific papers, here is one concise guide to methods that can be immediately applied to benefit any wetland.Professor Paul Keddy has spent more than 50 years studying wetlands, and writing and lecturing about the environmental factors that control them. He has published more than 150 scholarly papers, and won multiple scientific prizes. His book Wetland Ecology is widely used to teach the principles of wetland science. Causal Factors for Wetland Management: A Concise Guide has a much simpler message: how to protect and enhance wetlands. In this concise guide, he has condensed a lifetime of experience into just 12 principles. The book is aimed at all people who protect or restore wetlands: park managers, wildlife biologists, landscape architects, engineers, environmental consultants, environmental agencies, conservation authorities, and NGOs—as well as landowners and concerned citizens. Causal Factors for Wetland Management: A Concise Guide is essential reading for anyone who cares for wetlands and wild places.
Causal Inferences in Nonexperimental Research
by Hubert M. BlalockTaking an exploratory rather than a dogmatic approach to the problem, this book pulls together materials bearing on casual inference that are widely scattered in the philosophical, statistical, and social science literature. It is written in nonmathematical terms, and it is imaginative and sophisticated from both a theoretical and a statistical point of view.Originally published in 1964.A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.
Causal Physics: Photons by Non-Interactions of Waves
by Chandrasekhar RoychoudhuriCausal Physics: Photons by Non Interactions of Waves redefines the mathematical Superposition Principle as an operational Superposition Effect; which is the measurable physical transformation experienced by a detector due to stimulations induced by multiple waves simultaneously acting on the detecting dipoles. This light-matter interaction process driven model emerges naturally by incorporating the observed properties, Non-Interaction of Waves (NIW) and quantized photo detectors needing to fill up their "quantum-cups" with the required quantity of energy from all the stimulating waves around it. By not incorporating this NIW-property explicitly, quantum mechanics failed to extract various embedded realities in the theory while incorporated unnecessary hypotheses like wave-particle duality. The book utilizes this NIW-property to explain all the major optical phenomena (diffraction, spectrometry, coherence.) without using any self-contradictory hypotheses that are prevalent now. The book redefines the old ether (constituting the space) as a stationary Complex Tension Field (CTF), holding all the energy of the universe (no need for Dark Energy of Dark Matter). CTF sustains perpetually propagating EM waves as its linear excitations and the particles as self-looped localized resonant non-linear excitations. Tensions are identified by Maxwell, then the velocities of emitting and detecting atoms through the CTF contribute to the Doppler shifts separately. This calls for re-visiting physical processes behind Hubble Redshift and hence Expanding Universe. The success of the book derives from a novel thinking strategy of visualizing the invisible interaction processes, named as Interaction Process Mapping Epistemology (IPM-E). This is over and above the prevailing strategy of Measurable Data Modeling Epistemology (MDM-E). The approach inspires the next generation of physicists to recognizing that the "foundation of the edifice of physics" has not yet been finalized. IPM-E will stimulate more of us to become technology innovators by learning to emulate the ontologically real physical processes in nature and become more evolution congruent. Critical thinkers without expertise in optical science and engineering, will appreciate the value of the content by reading the book backward, starting from Ch.12; which explains the critical thinking methodology besides giving a very brief summary of the contents in the previous chapters. Establishes that abandoning the wave-particle-duality actually allows us to extract more realities out of quantum mechanics. Illustrates how the discovery of the NIW-property profoundly impacts several branches of fundamental physics, including Doppler effect and hence the cosmological red shift Summarizes that many ad hoc hypotheses from physics can be removed, a la Occam’s razor, while improving the reality and comprehension of some of the current working theories Demonstrates that our persistent attempts to restore causality in physical theories will be guided by our capability to visualize the invisible light matter interaction processes that are behind the emergence of all measurable data Draws close attention to the invisible but ontological interaction processes behind various optical phenomena so we can emulate them more efficiently and knowledgably in spite of limitations of our theories Designed as a reference book for general physics and philosophy, this optical science and engineering book is an ideal resource for optical engineers, physicists, and those working with modern optical equipment and high precision instrumentation.
Causal Pluralism in the Life Sciences: A Journey Along the Frontiers of Conceptual Plurality (History, Philosophy and Theory of the Life Sciences #25)
by Kolja EhrensteinThis book takes a new approach to the debate on causal pluralism in the philosophy of biology by asking how useful pluralism is instead of debating its truth. The core thesis in this work is that many problems do not hinge on the question of whether or not we subscribe to causal pluralism. As one step in this central argument, the author develops an account that reasonably distinguishes pluralism from monism; in another step he studies cases that allegedly motivate causal pluralism in biology. Examining these cases shows how pluralism is often irrelevant and why pursuing pluralism is sometimes dangerous, since it may generate pseudo solutions to persistent philosophical problems. This book offers a systematic approach to this subject matter and argues that we might have overestimated the significance of the monism-pluralism distinction and at the same time failed to see the risks of pursuing causal pluralism.
Causal Reasoning in Physics
by Mathias FrischMuch has been written on the role of causal notions and causal reasoning in the so-called 'special sciences' and in common sense. But does causal reasoning also play a role in physics? Mathias Frisch argues that, contrary to what influential philosophical arguments purport to show, the answer is yes. Time-asymmetric causal structures are as integral a part of the representational toolkit of physics as a theory's dynamical equations. Frisch develops his argument partly through a critique of anti-causal arguments and partly through a detailed examination of actual examples of causal notions in physics, including causal principles invoked in linear response theory and in representations of radiation phenomena. Offering a new perspective on the nature of scientific theories and causal reasoning, this book will be of interest to professional philosophers, graduate students, and anyone interested in the role of causal thinking in science.
Causality and Modern Science: Third Revised Edition
by Mario Bunge"I regard it as a truly seminal work in this field." -- Professor William A. Wallace, author of Causality and Scientific ExplanationThis third edition of a distinguished book on the subject of causality is clear evidence that this principle continues to be an important area of philosophic enquiry.Non-technical and clearly written, this book focuses on the ontological problem of causality, with specific emphasis on the place of the causal principle in modern science. The author first defines the terminology employed and describes various formulations on the causal principle. He then examines the two primary critiques of causality, the empiricist and the romantic, as a prelude to the detailed explanation of the actual assertions of causal determination. Finally, Dr. Bunge analyzes the function of the causal principle in science, touching on such subjects as scientific law, scientific explanation, and scientific prediction. Included, also, is an appendix that offers specific replies to questions and criticisms raised upon the publication of the first edition.Now professor of philosophy and head of the Foundation and Philosophy of Science Unit at McGill University in Montreal, Dr. Mario Bunge has formerly been a full professor of theoretical physics. His observations on causality are of great interest to both scientists and humanists, as well as the general scientific and philosophic reader.
Causality for Artificial Intelligence: From a Philosophical Perspective
by Jordi VallverdúHow can we teach machine learning to identify causal patterns in data? This book explores the very notion of “causality”, identifying from a naturalistic and evolutionary perspective how living systems deal with causal relationships. At the same time, using this knowledge to identify the best ways to apply such biological models in machine learning scenarios. One of the more fundamental challenges for AI experts is to design machines that can understand the world, identifying the basic rules that govern reality. Statistics are powerful and fundamental for this process, but they are only one of the necessary tools. Counterfactual thinking is the other part of the necessary process that will help machines to become intelligent. This book explains the paths that can lead to algorithmic causality. It is essential reading for those who are not afraid of thinking at the interface of various academic disciplines or fields (AI, machine learning, philosophy, neuroscience, anthropology, psychology, computer sciences), and who are interested in the analysis of causal thinking and the ways in which cognitive systems (natural or artificial) can act in order to understand their environment. Professor Vallverdú is currently working on biomimetic cognitive architectures and multicognitive systems. His research has explored two main areas: epistemology and cognition. Since his early Ph.D. research on epistemic controversies, he has analyzed several aspects of computational epistemology. His latest research has focused on the causal challenges of machine learning techniques, particularly deep learning. One of his most promising advances is statistics meets causal graph reasoning (via Directed Acyclic Graphs), which still has several conceptual paths that need to be explored and identified. Counterfactual reasoning is a fundamental part of these open debates, which are under the analysis of Prof. Vallverdú. His current research is supported as part of the following projects: GEHUCT and ICREA Acadèmia.
Causality, Meaningful Complexity and Embodied Cognition (Theory and Decision Library A: #46)
by A. CarsettiWith respect to the possible outlining of new models of the process of knowledge construction, we are really faced, at the moment, with the appearance of a new frontier: a frontier that appears strictly linked to the emergence of a conceptual revolution at the level of the analysis of that peculiar entanglement of complexity, information, causality, meaning, emergence, teleology and intentionality that characterizes the unfolding of the "natural forms" of human cognition. To recognize some of the peculiar knots of this particular conceptual revolution precisely constitutes the first target of the volume. Cognitive activity is rooted in Reality, but at the same time represents the necessary means whereby Reality can embody itself in an objective way: i.e., in accordance with an in-depth nesting process and a surface unfolding of operational meaning. In this sense, the objectivity of Reality is also proportionate to the autonomy reached by cognitive processes. Within this conceptual framework, reference procedures thus appear as related to the modalities providing the successful constitution of the channel, of the actual link, in particular, established at the neural level between operations of vision and thought. Such procedures ensure not a simple "regimentation" or an adequate replica, but, on the contrary, the real constitution of a cognitive autonomy in accordance with the truth. A method thus emerges which is simultaneously project, telos and regulating activity: a code that becomes process, positing itself as the foundation of a constantly renewed synthesis between function and meaning. In this sense, at the level of cultural evolution, reference procedures act as guide, mirror and canalisation with respect to primary information flows and involved selective forces. They also constitute a precise support for the operations which "imprison" meaning and "inscribe" the "file" considered as an autonomous categorial (and generating) system. In this way, they offer themselves as the actual instruments for the constant renewal of the code, for the invention and the actual articulation of an ever-new incompressibility.
Causality: Models, Reasoning and Inference
by Judea PearlWritten by one of the pre-eminent researchers in the field, this book provides a comprehensive exposition of modern analysis of causation. It shows how causality has grown from a nebulous concept into a mathematical theory with significant applications in the fields of statistics, artificial intelligence, philosophy, cognitive science, and the health and social sciences. Pearl presents a unified account of the probabilistic, manipulative, counterfactual and structural approaches to causation, and devises simple mathematical tools for analyzing the relationships between causal connections, statistical associations, actions and observations. The book will open the way for including causal analysis in the standard curriculum of statistics, artifical intelligence, business, epidemiology, social science and economics. Students in these areas will find natural models, simple identification procedures, and precise mathematical definitions of causal concepts that traditional texts have tended to evade or make unduly complicated. This book will be of interest to professionals and students in a wide variety of fields. Anyone who wishes to elucidate meaningful relationships from data, predict effects of actions and policies, assess explanations of reported events, or form theories of causal understanding and causal speech will find this book stimulating and invaluable. Professor of Computer Science at the UCLA, Judea Pearl is the winner of the 2008 Benjamin Franklin Award in Computers and Cognitive Science.
Causality: The p-adic Theory (STEAM-H: Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, Mathematics & Health)
by Vladimir AnashinThis book delves into the mathematical theory of causal functions over discrete time, offering a fresh perspective on causality beyond its philosophical roots. By exploring the intricate world of p-adic 1-Lipschitz functions, this volume bridges the gap between abstract mathematical concepts and their practical applications in fields such as automata theory, combinatorics, and applied computer science. Readers will uncover a wealth of insights as the book investigates key topics including the nature of causal functions, the role of discrete time in causality, and the application of non-Archimedean metrics. With contributions from eminent scholars, this work invites readers to ponder critical questions: How do we define causality in mathematical terms? What are the implications of using p-adic analysis in understanding complex systems especially quantum ones? The author's unique approach makes this book an essential read for anyone interested in the intersection of mathematics and real-world applications. Ideal for researchers and practitioners with a background in mathematics, computer science, or physics, this book is a valuable resource for those seeking to deepen their understanding of causal functions. Whether you're a scholar exploring theoretical perspectives or a professional looking to apply these concepts practically, this volume offers a comprehensive guide to navigating the complexities of causality. Part of an ongoing series on advanced mathematical theories, it is an indispensable addition to any academic library.
Causation and Creation in Late Antiquity
by Anna Marmodoro Brian D. PrinceWritten by a group of leading scholars, this unique collection of essays investigates the views of both pagan and Christian philosophers on causation and the creation of the cosmos. Structured in two parts, the volume first looks at divine agency and how late antique thinkers, including the Stoics, Plotinus, Porphyry, Simplicius, Philoponus and Gregory of Nyssa, tackled questions such as: is the cosmos eternal? Did it come from nothing or from something pre-existing? How was it caused to come into existence? Is it material or immaterial? The second part looks at questions concerning human agency and responsibility, including the problem of evil and the nature of will, considering thinkers such as Plotinus, Porphyry, Proclus and Augustine. Highlighting some of the most important and interesting aspects of these philosophical debates, the volume will be of great interest to upper-level students and scholars of philosophy, classics, theology and ancient history.
Causation in Psychology
by John CampbellA renowned philosopher argues that singular causation in the mind is not grounded in general patterns of causation, a claim on behalf of human distinctiveness, which has implications for the future of social robots.A blab droid is a robot with a body shaped like a pizza box, a pair of treads, and a smiley face. Guided by an onboard video camera, it roams hotel lobbies and conference centers, asking questions in the voice of a seven-year-old. “Can you help me?” “What is the worst thing you’ve ever done?” “Who in the world do you love most?” People pour their hearts out in response.This droid prompts the question of what we can hope from social robots. Might they provide humanlike friendship? Philosopher John Campbell doesn’t think so. He argues that, while a social robot can remember the details of a person’s history better than some spouses can, it cannot empathize with the human mind, because it lacks the faculty for thinking in terms of singular causation.Causation in Psychology makes the case that singular causation is essential and unique to the human species. From the point of view of practical action, knowledge of what generally causes what is often all one needs. But humans are capable of more. We have a capacity to imagine singular causation. Unlike robots and nonhuman animals, we don’t have to rely on axioms about pain to know how ongoing suffering is affecting someone’s ability to make decisions, for example, and this knowledge is not a derivative of general rules. The capacity to imagine singular causation, Campbell contends, is a core element of human freedom and of the ability to empathize with human thoughts and feelings.
Causation in Science
by Yemima Ben-MenahemThis book explores the role of causal constraints in science, shifting our attention from causal relations between individual events--the focus of most philosophical treatments of causation—to a broad family of concepts and principles generating constraints on possible change. Yemima Ben-Menahem looks at determinism, locality, stability, symmetry principles, conservation laws, and the principle of least action—causal constraints that serve to distinguish events and processes that our best scientific theories mandate or allow from those they rule out.Ben-Menahem's approach reveals that causation is just as relevant to explaining why certain events fail to occur as it is to explaining events that do occur. She investigates the conceptual differences between, and interrelations of, members of the causal family, thereby clarifying problems at the heart of the philosophy of science. Ben-Menahem argues that the distinction between determinism and stability is pertinent to the philosophy of history and the foundations of statistical mechanics, and that the interplay of determinism and locality is crucial for understanding quantum mechanics. Providing historical perspective, she traces the causal constraints of contemporary science to traditional intuitions about causation, and demonstrates how the teleological appearance of some constraints is explained away in current scientific theories such as quantum mechanics.Causation in Science represents a bold challenge to both causal eliminativism and causal reductionism—the notions that causation has no place in science and that higher-level causal claims are reducible to the causal claims of fundamental physics.
Cause and Correlation in Biology
by Bill ShipleyThis book goes beyond the truism that 'correlation does not imply causation' and explores the logical and methodological relationships between correlation and causation. It presents a series of statistical methods that can test, and potentially discover, cause-effect relationships between variables in situations in which it is not possible to conduct randomised or experimentally controlled experiments. Many of these methods are quite new and most are generally unknown to biologists. In addition to describing how to conduct these statistical tests, the book also puts the methods into historical context and explains when they can and cannot justifiably be used to test or discover causal claims. Written in a conversational style that minimises technical jargon, the book is aimed at practising biologists and advanced students, and assumes only a very basic knowledge of introductory statistics.