Cartwright, Aristotelian and/or Millian?

RICARDO FERNANDO CRESPO

Madrid

Jornada; International Network for Economic Methodology Annual Conference; 2008

INEM

Abstract: Nancy Cartwright understands scientific explanation in terms of stable causes, which she calls ?capacities? or ?natures?. She has been criticized for her interpretation of Mill?s tendencies, for her stress on the individual causes, for the contrast between her empiricism and her metaphysical flavor (not always clear), and for her ?local realism?. This paper will analyze those criticisms and will show that a greater reliance on Aristotle may help to answer those criticisms and to consolidate her proposals. Besides, Cartwright is more skeptical about the possibilities of causal explanation in the social realm than about its possibilities in the natural science. The explanation of this greater skepticism, however, is not clear at all. Then, the paper will also look for Aristotelian social capacities and will provide some Aristotelian arguments for Cartwright?s skepticism about their knowledge.