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Causal structure and hierarchies of models.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hoover, KD
Published in: Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences
December 2012

Economics prefers complete explanations: general over partial equilibrium, microfoundational over aggregate. Similarly, probabilistic accounts of causation frequently prefer greater detail to less as in typical resolutions of Simpson's paradox. Strategies of causal refinement equally aim to distinguish direct from indirect causes. Yet, there are countervailing practices in economics. Representative-agent models aim to capture economic motivation but not to reduce the level of aggregation. Small structural vector-autoregression and dynamic stochastic general-equilibrium models are practically preferred to larger ones. The distinction between exogenous and endogenous variables suggests partitioning the world into distinct subsystems. The tension in these practices is addressed within a structural account of causation inspired by the work of Herbert Simon's, which defines cause with reference to complete systems adapted to deal with incomplete systems and piecemeal evidence. The focus is on understanding the constraints that a structural account of causation places on the freedom to model complex or lower-order systems as simpler or higher-order systems and on to what degree piecemeal evidence can be incorporated into a structural account.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences

DOI

EISSN

1879-2499

ISSN

1369-8486

Publication Date

December 2012

Volume

43

Issue

4

Start / End Page

778 / 786

Related Subject Headings

  • Science Studies
  • Probability
  • Motivation
  • Models, Econometric
  • Humans
  • Economics
  • Causality
  • 5003 Philosophy
  • 5002 History and philosophy of specific fields
  • 2203 Philosophy
 

Citation

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Hoover, K. D. (2012). Causal structure and hierarchies of models. Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, 43(4), 778–786. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsc.2012.05.007
Hoover, Kevin D. “Causal structure and hierarchies of models.Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences 43, no. 4 (December 2012): 778–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsc.2012.05.007.
Hoover KD. Causal structure and hierarchies of models. Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences. 2012 Dec;43(4):778–86.
Hoover, Kevin D. “Causal structure and hierarchies of models.Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, vol. 43, no. 4, Dec. 2012, pp. 778–86. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.shpsc.2012.05.007.
Hoover KD. Causal structure and hierarchies of models. Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences. 2012 Dec;43(4):778–786.
Journal cover image

Published In

Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences

DOI

EISSN

1879-2499

ISSN

1369-8486

Publication Date

December 2012

Volume

43

Issue

4

Start / End Page

778 / 786

Related Subject Headings

  • Science Studies
  • Probability
  • Motivation
  • Models, Econometric
  • Humans
  • Economics
  • Causality
  • 5003 Philosophy
  • 5002 History and philosophy of specific fields
  • 2203 Philosophy