Causation

By: J.-M. Kuczynski

Narrated by: Michael Hatak

Length: 3 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

This book provides clear, concise answers to the following questions:

• What is it for one event to cause another?
• Under what conditions are causal claims warranted?
• What are the different kinds of causation?
• Does knowledge of physical law presuppose knowledge of instances of causation, or is it the other way around?
• What is the relationship between counterfactual knowledge and causal knowledge?
• Is it true, as it is so often alleged to be, that discovery and justification are categorically distinct?
• What are the merits, if any, of Hume's analysis of causation?
• What is the solution to the Raven Paradox?
• What is the difference between statistical and explanatory probability?
• What is probabilistic causation and why must its existence be granted?

©2016 John-Michael Kuczynski (P)2016 John-Michael Kuczynski

a great introduction to a complex topic

Would you listen to Causation again? Why?

absolutely

What other book might you compare Causation to and why?

the analysis of matter, by bertrand russell, both involve very good, and deep analyses of continuity and other important scientific concepts

What about Michael Hatak’s performance did you like?

the frat boy casualness

If you could give Causation a new subtitle, what would it be?

the ties that bind

Any additional comments?

there was a lot of semantics in this book, which didn't think would work, but it did, as i cam to see as i read on

brilliant

Would you consider the audio edition of Causation to be better than the print version?

yes, because when you hear it, you really have to pay attention. it's very carefully crafted, which is easily lost if you just skim through it

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

the high degree or structure and organization

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

was upbeat, didn't seem to understand what he was reading

If you could give Causation a new subtitle, what would it be?

the power behind the power

Any additional comments?

a major work

brilliant book, wretched narrator

What made the experience of listening to Causation the most enjoyable?

the clarity and forcefulness of the author's prose

What other book might you compare Causation to and why?

some book by russell, i guess

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Michael Hatak?

some science narrator.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

'keeping it together'

Any additional comments?

great book, but the narrator was not right for this part. he might be ok otherwise

thorough

Would you listen to Causation again? Why?

yes, it has to be listened to around five times, full of info

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

the contrast between the narrator's light touch and the author's crushingly powerful intellect

Which scene was your favorite?

the part on programmatic causation

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

beyond the multiverse

Any additional comments?

for serious thinkers

clear and helpful

Would you consider the audio edition of Causation to be better than the print version?

probably, in that it actually flows better than most philosophy books, which becomes clear when you hear it. it's kind of entertaining, which most scholarly works

What did you like best about this story?

the logic, the precision

Would you listen to another book narrated by Michael Hatak?

maybe

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

that there are different kinds of causation, and also different theories of causation, but theories of causation should not be confused

Any additional comments?

good book, not perfect, but worth a listen or two

one of the two or three best philosophy books

Would you listen to Causation again? Why?

I've already listened to it three times. there is so much there

Who was your favorite character and why?

the main one.

What does Michael Hatak bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

he actually kept it light.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

impressed by the author's intellect

Any additional comments?

if you read one philosophy book (or listen to one such book), make this one

Beyond all belief brilliant

What made the experience of listening to Causation the most enjoyable?

The most thorough, clear, and insightful book on causality known to me.

What other book might you compare Causation to and why?

The Analysis of Matter by Bertrand Russell, because Causation by K. compares favorably.

What aspect of Michael Hatak’s performance would you have changed?

He didn't understand the material and his sentences were therefore off.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

That there is such a thing as probabilistic causation.

Any additional comments?

The author is an absolute genius.

wish i'd read this in college

Would you consider the audio edition of Causation to be better than the print version?

a little bit, since hearing it made me really think about it

What was one of the most memorable moments of Causation?

the discussion of probability

Which scene was your favorite?

the discussion of the nature of explanatory probability

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

between probability and certainty

Any additional comments?

brilliant, clear, and thorough

causation explained

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes, I did not know that there was so much to know about causation. now I do.

Who was your favorite character and why?

it was non-fiction; only a narrator

Have you listened to any of Michael Hatak’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

yes. another one of jmk's books. hatak was relatively ok this time

If you could give Causation a new subtitle, what would it be?

saving philosophers of science from themselves

Any additional comments?

the material on program causation was realliy good

thorough

What made the experience of listening to Causation the most enjoyable?

it was scholarly. the author knows his stuff

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

the narrative per se was not good. the book was good.

How could the performance have been better?

the author didn't understand the book. he sounds like a d.j. he is not a scholar. he was a strange choice, led to real cognitive dissonance

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

i loved the analytical nature of the prose, the clarity

Any additional comments?

great book. best book on causation ever. narrator not good. but worth getting