Metaphysical tools of causality on the example of models by Jonathan Schaeffer and David Lewis

The work examines the ontological role of causal mechanisms, using examples from the classic works in analytic philosophy by David Lewis and Jonathan Schaffer. It demonstrates the significance of the theme of causality within the context of philosophical discourse and outlines the key functions of causal explanation. The problem of realism with regard to causality is formulated, accompanied by a brief genealogy of it. In the course of analyzing explanatory strategies and their elements, descriptive schemes and their components are identified, which are aimed at characterizing causality and causation as its integral part. The main questions toward the clarification of which explanatory strategies are directed are enumerated. An overview is provided of the models proposed by Jonathan Schaffer and David Lewis, which embody explanatory strategies. A comparison and evaluation of the elements of the designated schemes is conducted based on criteria of ontological economy, coherence, and explanatory power. The common features of Schaffers and Lewiss strategies are determined.