Causation, Evidence, and Inference

The book explores the relationship between evidence, concepts, and purposes in causal investigations across various scientific disciplines. Reiss challenges the notion of a "gold standard" for causal methods, arguing that techniques like experiments and statistical tools are effective only relative to specific interpretations of causality. Each interpretation serves distinct purposes such as prediction, explanation, or policy analysis. Through case studies from both natural and social sciences, the author examines the metaphysical and methodological implications of this perspective.