That is indeed a very difficult objection for the “being an actual cause is always valuable” view. We could amend that principle in various ways. One is agent-neutral: it is valuable that someone makes a difference (rather than the world just turning out well), but it’s not valuable that I make a difference. One adds conditions to actual causation; you get credit only if you raise the probability of the outcome? Do not lower the probability of the outcome (in which case it’s unclear whether you’d be an actual cause at all).
Things get tricky here with the metaphysics of causation and how they interact with agency-based ethical principles. There’s stuff here I’m aware I haven’t quite grasped!
Hi Richard,
That is indeed a very difficult objection for the “being an actual cause is always valuable” view. We could amend that principle in various ways. One is agent-neutral: it is valuable that someone makes a difference (rather than the world just turning out well), but it’s not valuable that I make a difference. One adds conditions to actual causation; you get credit only if you raise the probability of the outcome? Do not lower the probability of the outcome (in which case it’s unclear whether you’d be an actual cause at all).
Things get tricky here with the metaphysics of causation and how they interact with agency-based ethical principles. There’s stuff here I’m aware I haven’t quite grasped!