On the Minimization Principle in the Boolean Approach to Causal Discovery

Jiji Zhang

doi:10.1007/978-981-10-6355-8_5

On the Minimization Principle in the Boolean Approach to Causal Discovery

Jiji Zhang^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Conference proceeding › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

I examine the role of minimization in the Boolean approach to causal discovery, focusing on a recent development of the approach, implemented in a method called Coincidence Analysis (CNA). I present some prima facie counterexamples to the soundness of the minimization steps in CNA, or to the validity of a minimization principle that is naturally suggested by the minimization steps. I discuss two possible responses to the challenge, and argue that while one (but not the other) of them is viable, it renders the role of minimization steps inessential in an important sense. I end by suggesting that the trouble with the minimization principle arises out of locally uninstantiated regularities that regularity theorists have no reason to dismiss.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Philosophical Logic. Current Trends in Asia
Subtitle of host publication	Proceedings of AWPL-TPLC 2016
Editors	Syraya Chin-Mu Yang, Kok Yong Lee, Hiroakira Ono
Publisher	Springer Singapore
Pages	79-94
Number of pages	16
Edition	1st
ISBN (Electronic)	9789811063558
ISBN (Print)	9789811063541, 9789811348631
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6355-8_5
Publication status	Published - 25 Nov 2017
Event	The Joint Conference of the 3rd Asian Workshop on Philosophical Logic & the 3rd Taiwan Philosophical Logic Colloquium - National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan Duration: 5 Oct 2016 → 8 Oct 2016

Publication series

Name	Logic in Asia: Studia Logica Library
ISSN (Print)	2364-4613
ISSN (Electronic)	2364-4621

Conference

Conference	The Joint Conference of the 3rd Asian Workshop on Philosophical Logic & the 3rd Taiwan Philosophical Logic Colloquium
Abbreviated title	AWPL 2016, TPLC 2016
City	Taipei, Taiwan
Period	5/10/16 → 8/10/16

Scopus Subject Areas

Logic
Philosophy
Computer Science (miscellaneous)

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10.1007/978-981-10-6355-8_5

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title = "On the Minimization Principle in the Boolean Approach to Causal Discovery",

abstract = "I examine the role of minimization in the Boolean approach to causal discovery, focusing on a recent development of the approach, implemented in a method called Coincidence Analysis (CNA). I present some prima facie counterexamples to the soundness of the minimization steps in CNA, or to the validity of a minimization principle that is naturally suggested by the minimization steps. I discuss two possible responses to the challenge, and argue that while one (but not the other) of them is viable, it renders the role of minimization steps inessential in an important sense. I end by suggesting that the trouble with the minimization principle arises out of locally uninstantiated regularities that regularity theorists have no reason to dismiss.",

author = "Jiji Zhang",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgements This research was supported in part by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong under the General Research Fund LU13600715, and by a Faculty Research Grant from Lingnan University. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017, Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.; The Joint Conference of the 3rd Asian Workshop on Philosophical Logic & the 3rd Taiwan Philosophical Logic Colloquium, AWPL 2016, TPLC 2016 ; Conference date: 05-10-2016 Through 08-10-2016",

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doi = "10.1007/978-981-10-6355-8_5",

language = "English",

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series = "Logic in Asia: Studia Logica Library",

publisher = "Springer Singapore",

pages = "79--94",

editor = "Yang, {Syraya Chin-Mu} and Lee, {Kok Yong} and Hiroakira Ono",

booktitle = "Philosophical Logic. Current Trends in Asia",

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Zhang, J 2017, On the Minimization Principle in the Boolean Approach to Causal Discovery. in SC-M Yang, KY Lee & H Ono (eds), Philosophical Logic. Current Trends in Asia: Proceedings of AWPL-TPLC 2016. 1st edn, Logic in Asia: Studia Logica Library, Springer Singapore, pp. 79-94, The Joint Conference of the 3rd Asian Workshop on Philosophical Logic & the 3rd Taiwan Philosophical Logic Colloquium, Taipei, Taiwan, 5/10/16. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6355-8_5

On the Minimization Principle in the Boolean Approach to Causal Discovery. / Zhang, Jiji.
Philosophical Logic. Current Trends in Asia: Proceedings of AWPL-TPLC 2016. ed. / Syraya Chin-Mu Yang; Kok Yong Lee; Hiroakira Ono. 1st. ed. Springer Singapore, 2017. p. 79-94 (Logic in Asia: Studia Logica Library).

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Conference proceeding › peer-review

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On the Minimization Principle in the Boolean Approach to Causal Discovery

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