Decision and Dependence: A Defence of Causal Decision Theory

For several decades, causal decision theory (CDT) has been the orthodox version of philosophical decision theory. However, ever since CDT was first developed there have been those who have disputed the adequacy of this theory. Then, in the last decade and a half, opposition to this theory has intensified, with a vast array of novel objections to CDT emerging. As a result, the field of philosophical decision theory has splintered, with a large number of new versions of decision theory being developed to try to plug the gap left by the apparent collapse of CDT. However, in this thesis I will defend CDT against the objections raised against it and so dispute the need to develop a new version of decision theory. In doing so, I will address old challenges to CDT, based around Newcomb’s Problem and cases where CDT provides unstable guidance. These challenges have been around for some time. While existing solutions have been presented here, these have failed to fully resolve the disquiet that these objections raise. In this thesis, I will have more to say to resolve this disquiet so that we can set these old objections aside. In this thesis, I will also address new challenges to CDT, which have arisen in the past decade and a half. These challenges are based on appeals to quantum mechanics, prophecy, and the laws of nature, among other things. Many of these objections have not previously been addressed. However, I will argue that these challenges fail to appropriately construe CDT and so fail to truly undermine this theory. Causal decision theory, I will conclude, is a robust theory. As such, while there is much work to be done in philosophical decision theory this work involves building on, rather than replacing, CDT.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Cambridge

Year dc:date.issued

2017

Author dc:creator

• Bales, Adam Thomas

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Holton, Richard
• Ahmed, Arif

• Decision Theory
• Newcomb's Problem
• Causal Decision Theory
• Rationality

Licence

• https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/a715aa8e-7df7-46a7-8637-683d590176a6/download
• https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/

Language dc:language

en

DOI dc:identifier.doi

https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.14379

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/268179