Assume classical mereology with arbitrary fusions.
Further assume two plausible theses:
If each of the ys is caused by at least one of the xs and there is no overlap between any of the xs and ys, then the fusion of the ys is caused by a part of the fusion of the xs.
It is impossible to have non-overlapping objects A and B such that A is caused by a part of B and B is caused by a part of A.
It follows that:
- It is impossible to have an infinite causal regress of non-overlapping items.
For suppose that A0 is caused by A−1 which is caused by A−2 and so on. Let E be a fusion of the even-numbered items and O a fusion of the odd-numbered ones. Then by (1), a part of E causes O and a part of O causes E, contrary to (2).
This is rather like explanatory circularity arguments I have used in the past against regresses, but it uses causation and mereology instead.
2 comments:
(2) seems implausible. Imagine two blocks of concrete standing against each other. Each is standing up because of the tip of the other. We have two-way causation.
It's a nice example, but I don't think so. At time t1, block A is standing because block B was standing at times EARLIER than t1. At time t1, block B is standing because block A was standing at times EARLIER than t1.
Post a Comment