Causality

ability of agents to be the ultimate source or originator of their choices, free from external determination

Determinism is the metaphysical view that all events within the universe (or multiverse) can occur only in one possible way. Deterministic theories throughout the history of philosophy have developed from diverse and sometimes overlapping motives and considerations. Like eternalism, determinism focuses on particular events rather than the future as a concept. Determinism is often contrasted with free will, although some philosophers argue that the two are compatible. The antonym of determinism is indeterminism, the view that events are not deterministically caused.

Causality is an influence by which one event, process, state, or subject (i.e., a cause) contributes to the production of another event, process, state, or object (i.e., an effect) where the cause is at least partly responsible for the effect, and the effect is at least partly dependent on the cause. The cause of something may also be described as the reason behind the event or process.

idea that small causes can have large effects in complex or nonlinear dynamic systems

thumb|upright=1.15|Plato (left) and [[Aristotle, depicted here in The School of Athens, both developed teleological arguments addressing the universe's apparent order (logos)]]

sequence of reactions where a reactive product or by-product causes additional reactions to take place

statement based on repeated experimental observations that describes some aspects of the universe

An explanation is a set of statements usually constructed to describe a set of facts that clarifies the causes, context, and consequences of those facts. It may establish rules or laws, and clarifies the existing rules or laws in relation to any objects or phenomena examined.

contradicting time travel of one’s biological parent’s death/separation

thumb|upright=1.5|Brick inscribed with the Sutra on Dependent Origination. Found in Gopalpur, Gorakhpur District, Uttar Pradesh. Dated , Gupta Empire|Gupta period. [[Ashmolean Museum.]]

cumulative effect produced when one event sets off a chain reaction of similar events

prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true, by the very terms of the prophecy itself, due to positive feedback between belief and behavior

Latin phrase indicating that factors not being considered in a comparison are held to be constant across the items compared

alt=An image of a total solar eclipse at Orin Junction, Wyoming in 2017. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon completely blocks the face of the Sun. It is the result of a cosmic coincidence. Even though the Sun is about 400 times bigger than the Moon, it is also about 400 times farther away. This makes the Sun and the Moon appear almost exactly the same size in our sky. |thumb|Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017|A total solar eclipse at Orin Junction, Wyoming in 2017. A total solar eclipse happens when the [[Moon completely blocks the face of the Sun. It is the result of a cosmic coinciden

philosophical concept regarding infinite continuance of the universe

argument that God's existence is required to explain the existence or nature of the universe

Occasionalism is a philosophical doctrine about causation which says that created substances cannot be efficient causes of events. Instead, all events are taken to be caused directly by God. (A related concept, which has been called "occasional causation", also denies a link of efficient causation between mundane events, but may differ as to the identity of the true cause that replaces them.) The doctrine states that the illusion of efficient causation between mundane events arises out of God's causing of one event after another. However, there is no necessary connection between the two: it is

principle that everything must have a reason or a cause

theoretical paradox resulting from time travel

postulated ultimate cause of all activity in the universe

the causal relationship between conduct and result

elements of an influential principle in Aristotelian thought

subset category of transmissible diseases, which are transmitted to other persons

Principles for establishing a causal relationship

legal standard of proof required for arrests and warrants under US law

methods of induction developed by philosopher John Stuart Mill

principles which Aristotle used to analyze motion, causality, ethics, and physiology

Retrocausality, or backwards causation, is a concept of cause and effect in which an effect precedes its cause in time and so a later event affects an earlier one. In quantum physics, the distinction between cause and effect is not made at the most fundamental level and so time-symmetric systems can be viewed as causal or retrocausal. Philosophical considerations of time travel often address the same issues as retrocausality, as do treatments of the subject in fiction, but the two phenomena are distinct.

conceptual link between natural phenomena that temporally follow one another because one is the cause of the other

conjecture that the laws of physics prevent closed timelike curves

Abilities are powers an agent has to perform various actions. They include common abilities, like walking, and rare abilities, like performing a double backflip. Abilities are intelligent powers: they are guided by the person's intention and executing them successfully results in an action, which is not true for all types of powers. They are closely related to but not identical with various other concepts, such as disposition, know-how, aptitude, talent, potential, and skill.

causal diagram that aids in visualizing how different variables in a system are interrelated. The diagram consists of a set of nodes and edges

concept in econometrics

use of language of goal-directedness in the context of evolutionary adaptation

disturbance that propagates through a system

a prediction that prevents what it predicts from happening

system where the output depends only on past and current inputs

expression of the problem of infinite regress

Conceptual issue in the philosophy of mind

Philosophical contradictions of Immanuel Kant

mechanism for capturing chronological and causal relationships

The Samkhya school of philosophy, which follows Prakṛti Parinama-vada (doctrine of the transformation of objective nature), describes the origination and evolution of universe through its theory of Satkāryavāda () which is the theory of causation. According to this theory, the manifested effect is pre-existent in the cause; and the original material cause of everything that is perceived is Prakriti. When Prakriti is not in proximity with immutable Purusha, the conscious ability (chiti-shakti), the three modes (gunas-sattva, rajas and tamas) of prakriti are in equipoise and prakriti is an unman

Latin phrase

Theory that terms acquire referents via a chain of usage events

measure the amount of directed (time-asymmetric) transfer of information

the idea that German unification was inevitable and that it was Prussia's destiny to accomplish it

last straw

abstract model that describes the causal mechanisms, rather than mere correlations, of a system

sequence