Volume II: Philosophical Essays on Causation, Conditionals, and Rational Decision by David Lewis – Published by Oxford U

Introduction

David Lewis was one of the most original and influential philosophers of the twentieth century, and his work continues to shape contemporary thought across logic, metaphysics, and the philosophy of science. Volume II, published by Oxford University Press, brings together thirteen powerful essays that explore some of the deepest questions about causality, time, probability, and human freedom. This hardbound edition is an essential addition to any serious student’s or scholar’s library, offering a rigorous yet accessible journey through Lewis’s later thinking.

Book Overview

This collection is the second volume of Lewis’s philosophical papers, featuring both newly written essays and previously published works, many of which include extensive new postscripts where the author revisits and refines his earlier arguments. The core of the book revolves around causation and its close relatives: counterfactual reasoning, indicative conditionals, the direction of time, subjective and objective probability, perception, free will, and rational decision-making. Throughout, Lewis develops a unified vision of how global features of the world might supervene on the local arrangement of physical qualities.

Key Highlights

• Thirteen landmark essays by one of the most innovative philosophers of the modern era
• New postscripts that update and deepen the original arguments
• Focus on causation and counterfactuals — foundational topics in metaphysics and philosophy of science
• Rigorous analytical style that rewards careful reading and invites critical engagement
• Oxford University Press quality in a durable hardcover binding

Inside the Book

The volume opens with a set of papers on counterfactual conditionals, where Lewis refines his famous possible-worlds semantics. Subsequent essays tackle the asymmetry of causation, the nature of objective chance, and the relationship between subjective probability and decision theory. Later chapters explore free will, perception, and the philosophy of time. Each paper is self-contained but builds toward a coherent picture of a world where everything — including causation itself — is grounded in the distribution of local qualities across spacetime.

Key Topics

• Counterfactual and indicative conditionals
• Causation and causal explanation
• The direction of time
• Subjective and objective probability
• Free will and determinism
• Rational decision and perception
• Supervenience and global features of reality

Reader Benefits

Students of philosophy will gain a masterclass in analytic reasoning and argument construction. Researchers will appreciate the depth of Lewis’s engagement with foundational issues. This volume also serves as a bridge between metaphysics and the philosophy of science, helping readers connect abstract theories to concrete scientific practice. The postscripts offer rare insight into how a great thinker evolves his views over time.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the core principles of counterfactual semantics
• Analyze the relationship between causation, time, and probability
• Critically evaluate arguments about free will and determinism
• Apply Lewis’s framework to problems in decision theory and epistemology
• Develop a deeper appreciation for metaphysical supervenience

Who Should Read

This book is ideal for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students of philosophy, particularly those specializing in metaphysics, philosophy of science, or logic. It is also highly recommended for professional philosophers, researchers in cognitive science, and anyone with a serious interest in the foundations of causality and probability. Indian readers studying analytic philosophy will find this volume especially valuable for its clarity and depth.

About the Author

David Lewis (1941–2001) was a professor of philosophy at Princeton University and is widely regarded as one of the greatest philosophers of his generation. His work on possible worlds, counterfactuals, and convention has become canonical. Lewis’s writing is known for its precision, wit, and willingness to pursue arguments to their most radical conclusions. He was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and received numerous accolades for his contributions to philosophy.

About the Publisher

Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford and one of the oldest and most respected academic publishers in the world. OUP is known for its rigorous editorial standards and its commitment to making scholarly works available globally. This hardcover edition is produced with the care and quality that Indian readers expect from a premium academic publisher.

Conclusion

Volume II by David Lewis is a masterful collection that remains essential reading for anyone serious about philosophy. Whether you are studying causation, time, or decision theory, these essays will challenge and inspire you. Order your copy from Bookshops.in today and add a timeless work of analytical philosophy to your shelf.