causation

Relation that holds between two temporally simultaneous or successive events when the first event (the cause) brings about the other (the effect). According to David Hume, when we say of two types of object or event that “X causes Y” (e.g., fire causes smoke), we mean that (i) Xs are “constantly conjoined” with Ys, (ii) Ys follow Xs and not vice versa, and (iii) there is a “necessary connection” between Xs and Ys such that whenever an X occurs, a Y must follow. Unlike the ideas of contiguity and succession, however, the idea of necessary connection is subjective, in the sense that it derives from the act of contemplating objects or events that we have experienced as being constantly conjoined and succeeding one another in a certain order, rather than from any observable properties in the objects or events themselves. This idea is the basis of the classic problem of induction, which Hume formulated. Hume's definition of causation is an example of a “regularity” analysis. Other types of analysis include counterfactual analysis, manipulation analysis, and probabilistic analysis.

Mentioned in	?		References in classic literature	?		Encyclopedia browser	?		Full browser	?
No references found	The third consideration is the degree to which we apprehend that endless chain of causation inevitably demanded by reason, in which each phenomenon comprehended, and therefore man's every action, must have its definite place as a result of what has gone before and as a cause of what will follow. War and Peace by Tolstoy, Leo View in context Up to that time they had been meaningless and without apparent causation. Before Adam by London, Jack View in context We may then distinguish "vital" from mechanical movements by the fact that vital movements depend for their causation upon the special properties of the nervous system, while mechanical movements depend only upon the properties which animal bodies share with matter in general. The Analysis of Mind by Russell, Bertrand View in context	caulking iron caulking recess Caulkins, Tracy Caulobacter Caulobacteraceae caulocarpic Caulococcus caulome Caumsett State Historic Park Caupolican Caupolicán Caura Caus, Salomon de causal causal boundary Causal Connection causal curve causal future causal past causal system Causalgia Causality causality condition Causality Principle causally simple causation Cause cause-effect graphing causeway Causses Caussidiere, Louis Marc Caussidière, Louis Marc Caustic caustic alcohol caustic barley caustic cracking caustic dip caustic embrittlement caustic etch caustic flooding caustic lime caustic potash caustic soda Caustic Surface caustic treater caustic wash causticity causticization caustobiolith Caustobioliths Cauterization	causalgia causalgia causalgia causalgia neuralgia causalgia neuralgia causalgia neuralgia Causalism causalities causalities causalities causality causality causality causality causality condition causality paradox Causality Principle Causality violation causally causally causally causally Causally Connected Self-Representation causally simple causam causam agere Causasian Causasian Causasian Causasus School of Business causation causation analysis causation analysis causation analysis causation analysis causation web causation web causation web causationism Causationist causations causations causations causations causative causative causative causatively causatively Causativo Causator cause cause cause cause cause cause Cause & Effects Diagram cause a commotion cause a discontinuance cause a flutter among the dovecotes

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Encyclopedia browser

Full browser

No references found

The third consideration is the degree to which we apprehend that endless chain of causation inevitably demanded by reason, in which each phenomenon comprehended, and therefore man's every action, must have its definite place as a result of what has gone before and as a cause of what will follow.

War and Peace by Tolstoy, Leo View in context

Up to that time they had been meaningless and without apparent causation.

Before Adam by London, Jack View in context

We may then distinguish "vital" from mechanical movements by the fact that vital movements depend for their causation upon the special properties of the nervous system, while mechanical movements depend only upon the properties which animal bodies share with matter in general.

The Analysis of Mind by Russell, Bertrand View in context

causation playV2('en/US/d3/d3dgdhsyssddsoslssssgh');playV2('en/UK/d3/d3dgdhsyssddsoslssssgh')

causation

causation