Homogeneity, selection, and the faithfulness condition

Authors:
Daniel Steel
Affiliations:
Department of Philosophy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA 48824
Venue:
Minds and Machines
Year:
2006

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Abstract

The faithfulness condition (FC) is a useful principle for inferring causal structure from statistical data. The usual motivation for the FC appeals to theorems showing that exceptions to it have probability zero, provided that some apparently reasonable assumptions obtain. However, some have objected that, the theorems notwithstanding, exceptions to the FC are probable in commonly occurring circumstances. I argue that exceptions to the FC are probable in the circumstances specified by this objection only given the presence of a condition that I label homogeneity, and furthermore that this condition typically does not obtain in the FC's intended domain of application.