Woodward's long awaited book is an attempt to construct a comprehensive account of causation explanation that applies to a wide variety of causal and explanatory claims in different areas of science and everyday life. The book engages some of the relevant literature from other disciplines, as Woodward weaves together examples, counterexamples, criticisms, defenses, objections, and replies into a convincing defense of the core of his theory, which is that we can analyze causation by appeal to the notion of manipulation.

Making Things Happen: A Theory of Causal Explanation (Oxford Studies in the Philosophy of Science)

Science & Math

Woodward, James

History & Philosophy

Oxford University Press

In Making Things Happen, James Woodward develops a new and ambitious comprehensive theory of causation and explanation that draws on literature from a variety of disciplines and which applies to a wide variety of claims in science and everyday life. His theory is a manipulationist account, proposing that causal and explanatory relationships are relationships that are potentially exploitable for purposes of manipulation and control. This account has its roots in the commonsense idea that causes are means for bringing about effects; but it also draws on a long tradition of work in experimental design, econometrics, and statistics. Woodward shows how these ideas may be generalized to other areas of science from the social scientific and biomedical contexts for which they were originally designed. He also provides philosophical foundations for the manipulationist approach, drawing out its implications, comparing it with alternative approaches, and defending it from common criticisms. In doing so, he shows how the manipulationist account both illuminates important features of successful causal explanation in the natural and social sciences, and avoids the counterexamples and difficulties that infect alternative approaches, from the deductive-nomological model onwards. Making Things Happen will interest philosophers working in the philosophy of science, the philosophy of social science, and metaphysics, and as well as anyone interested in causation, explanation, and scientific methodology.

Making Things Happen: A Theory of Causal Explanation (Oxford Studies in Philosophy of Science)

The past few decades have seen an explosion of research on causal reasoning in philosophy, computer science, and statistics, as well as descriptive work in psychology. In Causation with a Human Face, James Woodward integrates these lines of research and argues for an understanding of how each can inform the other: normative ideas can suggest interesting experiments, while descriptive results can suggest important normative concepts. Woodward's overall framework builds on the interventionist treatment of causation that he developed in Making Things Happen. Normative ideas discussed include proposals about the role of invariant or stable relationships in successful causal reasoning and the notion of proportionality. He argues that these normative ideas are reflected in the causal judgments that people actually make as a descriptive matter. Woodward also discusses the common philosophical practice-particularly salient in philosophical accounts of causation--of appealing to "intuitions" or "judgments about cases" in support of philosophical theses. He explores how, properly understood, such appeals are not different in principle from appeals to results from empirical research, and demonstrates how they may serve as a useful source of information about causal cognition.

Causation with a Human Face: Normative Theory and Descriptive Psychology (Oxford Studies in Philosophy of Science)

Politics & Social Sciences

Philosophy

Embracing the Chaos : Theological Responces to AIDS [Jan 01, 1991] Woodward, James

Embracing the Chaos : Theological Responces to AIDS

Religion & Spirituality

Christian Books & Bibles

Abingdon Pr

The aim of this book is to help people who are coping primarily with death (but also perhaps with other major loss or change) from a general Christian perspective. It will offer resources and help to people asking fundamental questions about death. It includes poetry, music and prose, and prayer and liturgical resources, and also a chapter on preparing your own funeral. There will also be a bibliography and list of organizations which offer support.

Befriending Death, Facing Loss

SPCK Publishing

Covers an ageing society, theories of ageing, images of old age, the religious and spiritual needs of older people, older people and memory, sexuality, diminishment, worship with older people, life learning, retirement, housing, politics and social policy, successful ageing. Each chapter includes exercises for further reflection. And the notes point to further reading.

Valuing Age: Pastoral Ministry With Older People (New Library of Pastoral Care)

This book offers fresh insights for those who want to reflect on Lukes Gospel as it is read and preached within the Christian Churches. It is the second in a series exploring each Gospel in the three-year cycle of the Lectionary. Journeying with Luke is a source of background information, a way to greater understanding, prayer and action inspired by the teachings of Jesus, a springboard for the imagination, helping us to visualize the lives, times and culture of first-century Israel, a guide to reflection for those preparing to hear (or preach) the word of God. This volume pays special attention to the particular character of Lukes writing  his use of story and song, and the importance of themes such as travel, mission and the outsider, and the relationship between the Gospel and the Book of Acts. With a blend of imagination, scholarship and pastoral wisdom, it will inspire worship and everyday discipleship throughout the Christian year.

Journeying with Luke: Lectionary Year C

Gooder, Paula

Christians who want to see Matthew's Gospel in a fresh and exciting way. Are you looking for a study to help you understand and use Matthew's Gospel? Will help individuals and groups to understand and use Matthew's Gospel in a small study or devotional setting. Journeying with Matthew' is a book to accompany the readings in year A of the Common Worship Lectionary. It aims to help individuals and groups to understand and use Matthew's Gospel.James Woodward is a Canon of Windsor, and the general editor of the book. He has written extensively in the area of pastoral and practical theology. His recent publications include Valuing Age (SPCK 2008).

Journeying with Matthew: Lectionary Year A

Journeying with Matthew offers a brief and accessible guide to the Gospel of Matthew. Like the previous volumes in this series, Journeying with Matthew follows the Revised Common Lectionary. Each chapter corresponds to a season of the liturgical year and the Gospel passages read during that season. Inside readers will find an introduction to the biblical text that looks at historical and literary themes; imaginative new ways to encounter Matthew in preaching and study, including poetry; and reflections on the text's meaning for contemporary Christian life. Each chapter ends with an action item, reflection questions, and a prayer. Perfect for lectionary pastors to use during personal reflection and sermon preparation, this inspiring resource will serve as an essential guide along the journey of encountering Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. Also available: Journeying with Luke: Reflections on the Gospel and Journeying with John: Reflections on the Gospel.

Journeying with Matthew: Reflections on the Gospel

Pryce, Mark

Westminster/John Knox Press

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Woodward, James. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Woodward, James

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Woodward, James. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Making Things Happen: A Theory of Causal Explanation (Oxford Studies in the Philosophy of Science)

Making Things Happen: A Theory of Causal Explanation (Oxford Studies in Philosophy of Science)

Causation with a Human Face: Normative Theory and Descriptive Psychology (Oxford Studies in Philosophy of Science)

Causation with a Human Face: Normative Theory and Descriptive Psychology (Oxford Studies in Philosophy of Science)

Embracing the Chaos : Theological Responces to AIDS

Befriending Death, Facing Loss

Valuing Age: Pastoral Ministry With Older People (New Library of Pastoral Care)

Journeying with Luke: Lectionary Year C

Journeying with Matthew: Lectionary Year A

Journeying with Matthew: Reflections on the Gospel