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Abstract

This chapter is concerned with proposing, or revisiting, a model of causation that would be sophisticated enough for the purposes of contemporary, complex causal theorising. It will be argued that the suggested mechanism, an adaptation of Mackie’s INUS model, is an adequate causal model for criminology theorising. It shall be shown that this particular model, whilst not novel, works by explicitly defining not only that which can be counted as causal but also how a causal factor must fit into the structure of the mechanism. Also, it explicates not only how this model is more suited to contemporary integrated forms of theorising that arise in contemporary criminology but also how the INUS conditions solve many of the problems, such as the confusion between correlates and causes, that besets the Humean causal ontology. The chapter also explores some of the criticisms and problems that this causal explanation may face.

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Warr, J. (2016). INUS Conditions and Criminological Theory. In: An Introduction to Criminological Theory and the Problem of Causation. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47446-5_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47446-5_7

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-47445-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-47446-5

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