How a philosophical theory of causation may help in ontological engineering
2003
Philosophical Theory of Causation in Ontological Engineering
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Daniel von Wachter
Primary Institution: Institute for Formal Ontology and Medical Information Science, University of Leipzig
Hypothesis
Can philosophical theories of causation provide a framework for ontological engineering?
Conclusion
The tendency theory of causation offers a more reliable framework for understanding and representing causal information in medical ontologies.
Supporting Evidence
- The tendency theory helps clarify how to represent causes and effects.
- It provides insights into causation by absence and defect.
- The theory distinguishes between causes and potential preventions of effects.
- It allows for reasoning about tendencies based on statistical information.
Takeaway
This study suggests that understanding how things cause each other can help us build better systems for organizing medical information.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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