ABSTRACT
If it turns out, for the remainder of the time that humans have in this universe, that philosophers do not advance the philosophy of causation beyond where it is today, this may mean rather little, either for the humdrum daily life of humanity or for the discipline of philosophy. This would be true because most people have a commonsense notion of causation that serves them perfectly well in their ordinary lives (suggesting that Hume's skepticism was perhaps too pessimistic). They know nothing of the philosophical issues, nor do they need to know them. It would also be true because in our current era philosophers are often permitted to go their own ways, without having the excessive baggage of connection to the world of action. They may know rather little of the world of science, nor do they need to know it.
