Unit 7 Causal Explanations

Causal explanations are different from inductive arguments as they provide explanations rather than conclusions. There are two types of explanations: reason explanations and causal explanations. Reason explanations provide a purpose or goal, while causal explanations explain what caused something to happen. When evaluating causal explanations, it is important to consider the difference between causation and correlation. A fallacy of causal reasoning is Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc, which fails to distinguish between causation and correlation. Occam's Razor is a heuristic principle that states entities should not be multiplied without necessity. When examining causal arguments, factors such as temporal occurrence, simplicity, credible links, and alternative explanations should be considered.