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Outputs (100)

Disagreement about Evidence-Based Policy (2024)
Book Chapter
Cowen, N., & Cartwright, N. (in press). Disagreement about Evidence-Based Policy. In M. Baghramian, J. A. Carter, & R. Cosker-Rowland (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of Disagreement. Routledge

How Should Evidence Inform Education Policy? (2022)
Book Chapter
Joyce, K. E., & Cartwright, N. (2022). How Should Evidence Inform Education Policy?. In R. Curren (Ed.), Handbook of Philosophy of Education. Taylor and Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003172246-9

This chapter explores how evidence from various sources can support education policy decisions. Although policy arguments include some normative premises, we focus on the evidence needed to support their descriptive premises, homing in on predictions... Read More about How Should Evidence Inform Education Policy?.

How to Learn about Causes in the Single Case (2022)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2022). How to Learn about Causes in the Single Case. In J. Widner, M. Woolcock, & D. Ortega Nieto (Eds.), . Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108688253.003

RCTs have gained considerable prominence as a ‘gold standard’ for establishing whether a given policy intervention has a causal effect, but what do these experiments actually tell us and how useful is this information for policy-makers? Cartwright dr... Read More about How to Learn about Causes in the Single Case.

Will Your Policy Work? Experiments versus Models (2018)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2018). Will Your Policy Work? Experiments versus Models. In I. Peschard, & B. van Frassen (Eds.), The experimental side of modeling. University of Minnesota Press

Are laws of nature consistent with contingency? (2018)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N., & Merlussi, P. (2018). Are laws of nature consistent with contingency?. In W. Ott, & L. Patto (Eds.), Laws of Nature, an anthology (221-244). Oxford University Press

Modeling mitigation and adaptation policies to predict their effectiveness: The limits of randomized controlled trials (2018)
Book Chapter
Marcellesi, A., & Cartwright, N. (2018). Modeling mitigation and adaptation policies to predict their effectiveness: The limits of randomized controlled trials. In E. Lloyd, & E. Winsberg (Eds.), Climate modelling : philosophical and conceptual issues (449-480). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65058-6_15

Policies to combat climate change should be supported by evidence regarding their effectiveness. But what kind of evidence is that? And what tools should one use to gather such evidence? Many argue that randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the gol... Read More about Modeling mitigation and adaptation policies to predict their effectiveness: The limits of randomized controlled trials.

A Theory of Measurement (2017)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N., Bradburn, N., & Fuller, J. (2017). A Theory of Measurement. In L. McClimans (Ed.), Measurement in medicine : philosophical essays on assessment and evaluation. Rowman & Littlefield

Causal Powers: Why Humeans Can't Even Be Instrumentalists (2017)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2017). Causal Powers: Why Humeans Can't Even Be Instrumentalists. In J. D. Jacobs (Ed.), Causal powers (9-23). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198796572.003.0002

Hume urged that there is no difference between the obtaining of a power and its exercise; others, that there is no difference between its exercise and the result that occurs. This chapter reinforces the reasons, based in the success of the analytic m... Read More about Causal Powers: Why Humeans Can't Even Be Instrumentalists.

Single Case Causes: What is Evidence and Why (2016)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2016). Single Case Causes: What is Evidence and Why. In H. Chao, & J. Reiss (Eds.), Philosophy of science in practice : Nancy Cartwright and the nature of scientific reasoning (11-24). Springer Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45532-7_2

How do we establish singular causal claims? It seems we do this all the time, from courtrooms to cloud chambers. Nevertheless, there is a strong lobby in the evidence-based medicine and policy movements that argues that we cannot make reliable causal... Read More about Single Case Causes: What is Evidence and Why.

Economics as Science (2016)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N., & Davis, J. (2016). Economics as Science. In R. Skidelsky, & N. Craig (Eds.), Who runs the economy? The role of power in economics (43-55). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-58017-7_4

The plan for this talk is to discuss, first, the question ‘What is science?’ I’m going to explain that the second question, ‘Does economics fit the bill?’, is hard to answer since we have no good answer to the first question. Then I shall turn to the... Read More about Economics as Science.

Deliberating Policy: Where morals and methods mix (2016)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N., & Marcellesi, A. (2016). Deliberating Policy: Where morals and methods mix. In M. Couch, & J. Pfeifer (Eds.), The philosophy of Philip Kitcher (229-252). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof%3Aoso/9780199381357.003.0010

Nancy Cartwright and Alexandre Marcellesi argue that policy decisions ought to be based on (1) whether the policy will be effective and (2) whether it is morally, politically, socially, and culturally acceptable. Greater weight, though, is often give... Read More about Deliberating Policy: Where morals and methods mix.

The Dethronement of Laws in Science (2016)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2016). The Dethronement of Laws in Science. In N. Cartwright, & K. Ward (Eds.), Rethinking order : after the laws of nature (25-52). Bloomsbury Academic

How Could Laws Make Things Happen? (2015)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2015). How Could Laws Make Things Happen?. In N. Spurway (Ed.), Laws of Nature, Laws of God? Proceedings of the Science and Religion Forum Conference 2014 (115-135). Cambridge Scholars Publishing

EBP: Where Rigor Matters (2015)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N., & Marcellesi, A. (2015). EBP: Where Rigor Matters. In C. Crangle, A. García de la Sienra, & H. E. Longino (Eds.), Foundations and methods from mathematics to neuroscience : essays inspired by Patrick Suppes. CSLI Publications

Measurement (2014)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2014). Measurement. In N. Cartwright, & E. Montuschi (Eds.), Philosophy of Social Science. A New Introduction. Oxford University Press

Causality (2014)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2014). Causality. In N. Cartwright, & E. Montuschi (Eds.), Philosophy of Social Science. A New Introduction. Oxford University Press

Evidence, Argument and Prediction (2013)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2013). Evidence, Argument and Prediction. In V. Karakostas, & D. Dieks (Eds.), EPSA11 Perspectives and Foundational Problems in Philosophy of Science, The European Philosophy of Science Association Proceedings 2. Springer Verlag

RCT’s, Evidence and Predicting Policy Effectiveness (2012)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2012). RCT’s, Evidence and Predicting Policy Effectiveness. In H. Kincaid (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Philosophy of the Social Sciences (298-318). Oxford University Press

Queen Physics: How Much of the Globe is Painted Red? (2012)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N., & Martin, E. (2012). Queen Physics: How Much of the Globe is Painted Red?. In F. Watts, & C. Knight (Eds.), God and the scientist : exploring the work of John Polkinghorne (67-76). Ashgate Publishing

A Theory of Evidence for Evidence-Based Policy (2011)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N., & Stegenga, J. (2011). A Theory of Evidence for Evidence-Based Policy. In P. Dawid, W. Twining, & M. Vasilaki (Eds.), Evidence, inference and enquiry (291-322). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.5871/bacad/9780197264843.003.0011

Evidence-based policy is all the rage now. But no one knows quite how to do it. Policy questions do not generally fall neatly within any one of our scientific or social science disciplines, where the standards and rules of evidence for the questions... Read More about A Theory of Evidence for Evidence-Based Policy.

Evidence, External Validity and Explanatory Relevance (2011)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2011). Evidence, External Validity and Explanatory Relevance. In G. J. Morgan (Ed.), Philosophy of science matters : the philosophy of Peter Achinstein (15-28). Oxford University Press

When does one fact speak for another? That is the problem of evidential relevance. Peter Achinstein’s answer, in brief: Evidential relevance = explanatory relevance.2 My own recent work investigates evidence for effectiveness predictions, which are a... Read More about Evidence, External Validity and Explanatory Relevance.

Predicting 'It Will Work for Us': (Way) Beyond Statistics (2011)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2011). Predicting 'It Will Work for Us': (Way) Beyond Statistics. In P. Illari, F. Russo, & J. Williamson (Eds.), Causality in the sciences. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof%3Aoso/9780199574131.001.0001

A great deal of attention in evidence‐based policy and practice is directed to statistical studies–especially randomized controlled trials–that support causal conclusions, which this chapter dubs ‘It‐works‐somewhere claims’. What's needed for policy... Read More about Predicting 'It Will Work for Us': (Way) Beyond Statistics.

A Theory of Measurement (2011)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N., & Bradburn, N. (2011). A Theory of Measurement. In R. M. Li (Ed.), The importance of common metrics for advancing social science theory and research: a workshop summary (53-56). National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/13034

Foreword (2010)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2010). Foreword. In J. Woods (Ed.), Fictions and Models: New Essays. Philosophia Verlag

Natural Laws and the Closure of Physics. (2010)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2010). Natural Laws and the Closure of Physics. In R. Chiao, A. Leggett, M. Cohen, & C. Harper (Eds.), Visions of Discovery. New Light on Physics, Cosmology and Consciousness (612-622). Cambridge University Press

Relativism in the Philosophy of Science. (2010)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2010). Relativism in the Philosophy of Science. In M. Krausz (Ed.), Relativism: A Contemporary Anthology (86-99). Columbia University Press

What is this thing called 'efficacy'? (2009)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. D. (2009). What is this thing called 'efficacy'?. In C. Mantzavinos (Ed.), Philosophy of the social sciences : philosophical theory and scientific practice (185-206). Cambridge University Press

This paper is about efficacy, effectiveness, the need for theory to join the two, and the tragedies of exporting the Cochrane medical-inspired ideology to social policy. Loosely, efficacy is what is established about causes in RCTs – randomized contr... Read More about What is this thing called 'efficacy'?.

Causality, Invariance and Policy (2009)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2009). Causality, Invariance and Policy. In H. Kincaid, & D. Ross (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of philosophy of economics (410-423). Oxford University Press

This chapter has five aims: 1. To explain the puzzling methodology of an important econometric study of health and status. 2. To note the widespread use of invariance in both economic and philosophical studies of causality to guarantee that causal kn... Read More about Causality, Invariance and Policy.

Measurement (2008)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N., & Chang, H. (2008). Measurement. In S. Psillos, & M. Curd (Eds.), The Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Science. Routledge

Replies (2008)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2008). Replies. In S. Hartmann, C. Hoefer, & L. Bovens (Eds.), Nancy Cartwright's Philosophy of Science. Routledge

Why be Hanged for Even a Lamb? (2008)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2008). Why be Hanged for Even a Lamb?. In B. Monton (Ed.), Images of empiricism (32-45). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof%3Aoso/9780199218844.003.0003

This chapter examines van Fraassen's motivation for restricting his scientific theoretical commitments to claims about observables. Many critics have argued that the observable/unobservable distinction van Fraassen draws on is either an illegitimate... Read More about Why be Hanged for Even a Lamb?.

In Praise of the Representation Theorem (2008)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2008). In Praise of the Representation Theorem. In M. Frauchiger, & W. Essler (Eds.), Representation, evidence, and justification : themes from Suppes (83-90). Ontos Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110323566.83

This paper will take up three of Patrick Suppes’s favourite topics: representation, invariance and causality. I begin not immediately with Suppes’s own work but with that of his Stanford colleague, Michael Friedman. Friedman argues that various high... Read More about In Praise of the Representation Theorem.

Counterfactuals in Economics: A Commentary (2007)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2007). Counterfactuals in Economics: A Commentary. In J. Keim Campbell, M. O'Rourke, & H. Silverman (Eds.), Causation and explanation (191-216). Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press

Counterfactuals are a hot topic in economics today, at least among economists concerned with methodology. I shall argue that on the whole this is a mistake. Usually the counterfactuals on offer are proposed as causal surrogates. But at best they prov... Read More about Counterfactuals in Economics: A Commentary.

From Causation to Explanation and Back (2006)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2006). From Causation to Explanation and Back. In B. Leiter (Ed.), The Future of Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford Clarendon Press

No God; No Laws (2005)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2005). No God; No Laws. In E. Sindoni, & S. Moriggi (Eds.), Dio, la Natura e la Legge. God and the Laws of Nature. Milan: Angelicum-Mondo X

My Understand to Philosophy [sic] (2005)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2005). My Understand to Philosophy [sic]. In K. Ouyang (Ed.), Dang dai Ying Mei zhu ming zhe xue jia xue shu zi shu [The Academic Self-Statements of Contemporary British and American Distinguished Philosophers]. Beijing: Ren min chu ban she. Publication in Chinese

Laws (2005)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N., Alexandrova, A., Efstathiou, S., Hamilton, A., & Muntean, I. (2005). Laws. In M. Smith, & F. Jackson (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of Contemporary Philosophy. Oxford University Press

Uncertainty in Econometrics: Evaluating Policy Counterfactuals (2004)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N., & Reiss, J. (2004). Uncertainty in Econometrics: Evaluating Policy Counterfactuals. In P. Mooslechner, H. Schuberth, & M. Schurz (Eds.), Economic Policy Under Uncertainty: The Role of Truth and Accountability in Policy Advice. Edward Elgar Publishing

What Makes a Capacity a Disposition?, (2002)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2002). What Makes a Capacity a Disposition?,. In M. Kistler, & B. Gnassounou (Eds.), Dispositions and Causal Powers (195-206). London School of Economics

Many, if not most of our highly prized “laws” of physics cannot be adequately rendered as statements of regular association among the values of “occurrent” quantities, I have argued.1 This is true even if we do not balk at the concept of natural nece... Read More about What Makes a Capacity a Disposition?,.

Ceteris Paribus Laws and Socio-Economic Machines (2001)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2001). Ceteris Paribus Laws and Socio-Economic Machines. In U. Maki (Ed.), The Economic World View: Studies in the Ontology of Economics. Cambridge University Press

Modularity: It Can – and Generally Does – Fail (2001)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2001). Modularity: It Can – and Generally Does – Fail. In D. Costantini, M. Galavotti, & P. Suppes (Eds.), Stochastic Dependence and Causality. California: CSLI

Against the Completability of Science (2000)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2000). Against the Completability of Science. In J. Wolff, & M. Stone (Eds.), The Proper Ambition of Science. Routledge

Quantum Mechanics without the Observables (2000)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2000). Quantum Mechanics without the Observables. In E. Agazzi, & M. Pauri (Eds.), The Reality of the Unobservable: Observability, Unobservability, and their Impact on the Issue of Scientific Realism. Dortrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers

An Empiricist Defence of Singular Causes (2000)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2000). An Empiricist Defence of Singular Causes. In R. Teichmann (Ed.), Logic, Cause and Action: Essays in Honour of Elizabeth Anscombe. Cambridge University Press

Capacities (1999)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (1999). Capacities. In J. Davis, D. Hands, & U. Mäki (Eds.), The Handbook of Economic Methodology. Edward Elgar Publishing

Comments and Replies (1999)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (1999). Comments and Replies. In M. Paul (Ed.), Proceedings of the Münster Colloquium. Münster: LIT Verlag

Causation (1998)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N., & Cat, J. (1998). Causation. In P. Kegan, & E. Craig (Eds.), The Routledge Encyclopaedia of Philosophy. Routledge

Causality, Independence and Determinism (1998)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (1998). Causality, Independence and Determinism. In A. Gammerman (Ed.), Causal Models and Intelligent Data Analysis. Springer Verlag

Otto Neurath (1882-1945) (1998)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (1998). Otto Neurath (1882-1945). In P. Kegan, & E. Craig (Eds.), The Routledge Encyclopaedia of Philosophy. Routledge

Where Do Laws of Nature Come From? (1997)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (1997). Where Do Laws of Nature Come From?. In C. Chauvire, & A. Ogien (Eds.), Dialectica (65-78). Paris: EHESS

What is a Causal Structure? (1997)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (1997). What is a Causal Structure?. In V. McKim, & S. Turner (Eds.), Causality in Crisis? Statistical Methods and the Search for Causal Knowledge in the Social Sciences. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press

Philosophy in the Earthly Plane (1997)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N., & Uebel, T. (1997). Philosophy in the Earthly Plane. In E. Nemeth, & F. Stadler (Eds.), Encyclopaedia and Utopia: The Life and Work of Otto Neurath. Münster: Kluwer Academic Publishers

Why Physics? (1997)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (1997). Why Physics?. In R. Penrose, & M. Longair (Eds.), The Large, the Small and the Human Mind. Cambridge University Press

Neurath Against Method (1996)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N., & Cat, J. (1996). Neurath Against Method. In R. Giere, & A. Richardson (Eds.), Origins of Logical Empiricism, Minnesota Studies in the Philosophy of Science, XVI. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press

Causal Structures in Econometrics Models (1995)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (1995). Causal Structures in Econometrics Models. In D. Little (Ed.), On the Reliability of Economic Models (63-89). Kluwer Academic Publishers. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0643-6_3

There has recently been a renewal of interest among economists, especially econometricians, in deep versus shallow parameters, autonomous versus confluent equations, and fundamental versus phenomenological laws. What is at stake in these concerns is... Read More about Causal Structures in Econometrics Models.

Where in the World is the Quantum Measurement Problem? (1995)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (1995). Where in the World is the Quantum Measurement Problem?. In L. Kruger, & B. Falkenburg (Eds.), Physik, Philosophie und die Einheit der Wissenschaften: Grundlagen der exakten Naturawissenschaften. Heidelberg: Spektrum Akademischer Verlag

Otto Neurath: Politics and the Unity of Science (1995)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N., Cat, J., & Chang, H. (1995). Otto Neurath: Politics and the Unity of Science. In P. Galison, & D. Stump (Eds.), The Disunity of Science. Stanford: Stanford University Press

Substantivalism and the Hole Argument (1994)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N., & Hoefer, C. (1994). Substantivalism and the Hole Argument. In J. Earman, A. Janis, G. Massey, & N. Rescher (Eds.), Philosophical Problems of the Internal and External Worlds: Essays Concerning the Philosophy of Adolf Grünbaum. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press

Marks and Probabilities: Two Ways to Find Causal Structure (1993)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (1993). Marks and Probabilities: Two Ways to Find Causal Structure. In F. Stadler (Ed.), Scientific Philosophy: Origins and Developments, Yearbook 1/93, Institute Vienna Circle. Münster: Kluwer Academic Publishers

How We Relate Theory to Observation (1993)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (1993). How We Relate Theory to Observation. In P. Horwich (Ed.), World Changes: Thomas Kuhn and the Nature of Science. Cambridge. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press

How to Hunt Quantum Causes (1991)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N., & Jones, M. (1991). How to Hunt Quantum Causes. In W. Spohn (Ed.), Erkenntnis Orientated: A Centennial Volume for Rudolf Carnap and Hans Reichenbach (205-231). Springer Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3490-3_11

In Bohm’s version of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (E.P.R.) paradox, a source prepares paired spin-1/2 particles in the singlet state. This is a state in which the total spin must be zero. Yet, when a measurement is made along any given direction, each... Read More about How to Hunt Quantum Causes.

Quantum Causes: The Lessons of the Bell Inequalities (1990)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (1990). Quantum Causes: The Lessons of the Bell Inequalities. In P. Weingärtner, & G. Schurz (Eds.), Philosophy of the Natural Sciences: Proceedings of the 13th International Wittgenstein Symposium. Vienna: Hölderlin-Pichler-Tempsky

Capacities and abstractions. (1989)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (1989). Capacities and abstractions. In P. Kitcher, & W. Salmon (Eds.), Scientific Explanation (349-356). (Minnesota archive ed.). University of Minnesota Press

Ursachen und Mathematische Physik (1988)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (1988). Ursachen und Mathematische Physik. In W. Muschik, & E. Scheibe (Eds.), Philosophie, Physik, Wissenschaftsgeschichte. Berlin: Technische Universität Berlin

Regular Associations and Singular Causes (1988)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (1988). Regular Associations and Singular Causes. In B. Skyrms, & W. Harper (Eds.), Causation, Chance and Credence. Münster: Kluwer Academic Publishers

Max Born and the Reality of Quantum Probabilities (1987)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (1987). Max Born and the Reality of Quantum Probabilities. In L. Krüger, G. Gigerenzer, & M. Morgan (Eds.), The Probabilistic Revolution. Cambridge, MA: Bradford Books

Two Kinds of Teleological Explanation (1986)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (1986). Two Kinds of Teleological Explanation. In A. Donagan, A. Perovich, & M. Wedin (Eds.), Human Nature and Natural Knowledge. Dortrecht: D. Reidel

Fitting Facts to Equations (1986)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (1986). Fitting Facts to Equations. In R. Grandy, & R. Warner (Eds.), Philosophical Grounds of Rationality: Intentions, Categories and Ends. Oxford University Press

What Makes Physics' Objects Abstract? (1984)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N., & Mendell, H. (1984). What Makes Physics' Objects Abstract?. In J. Cushing, C. Delaney, & G. Gutting (Eds.), Science and Reality. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press

Measuring Position Probabilities (1980)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (1980). Measuring Position Probabilities. In P. Suppes (Ed.), Studies in the Foundations of Quantum Mechanics. Philosophy of Science Association

Philosophy of Physics (1979)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (1979). Philosophy of Physics. In P. Asquith, & H. Kyburg (Eds.), Current Research in Philosophy of Science: Proceedings of the PSA Critical Research Problems Conference. Philosophy of Science Association