Page 21 - The Logic of Causation
P. 21


THE GENERIC DETERMINATIONS 21



 parallel complete causes cannot be exhaustive (since “if notC, not-then C 1” is true for
them); and parallel necessary effects cannot be incompatible (since “if E, not-then
notE 1” is true for them);
 parallel necessary causes cannot be incompatible (since “if C, not-then notC 1” is true for
them); and parallel dependent effects cannot be exhaustive (since “if notE, not-then E 1”
is true for them);
... it follows that either one of parallel causes C and C 1 may be a complete or necessary
cause of the other; and likewise, either one of parallel effects E and E 1 may be a complete
or necessary cause of the other.
In certain situations, as we shall see in a later chapter, it is possible to infer such causal
relations between parallels. But, it must be stressed, the mere fact of parallelism does not in
itself imply such causal relations.

In sum, complete and/or necessary causation should not be taken to imply exclusiveness
(i.e. that a unique cause and a unique effect are involved); such relation(s) allow for
plurality of causes or effects in the sense of parallelism as just elucidated.
Indeed, it is very improbable that we come across exclusive relations in practice, since
every existent has many facets, each of which might be selected as cause or effect. Our
focusing on this or that aspect as most significant or essential, is often arbitrary, a matter of
convenience; though often, too, it is guided by broader considerations, which may be based
on intuition of priorities or complicated reasoning.
In any case, it is important to distinguish plurality arising in strong causation, which
signifies alternation of causes or composition of effects, as above, from plurality arising in
weak causation, which signifies composition of causes or alternation of effects, which we
shall consider in the next section.


3. Weak Determinations.

Having clarified the complete and necessary forms of causation, as well as parallelism, we
are now in a position to deal with lesser determinations of causation. Let us first examine
partial causation; contingent causation will be dealt with further on.

Partial causation:

(i) If (C1 + C2), then E;
(ii) if (notC1 + C2), not-then E;
(iii) if (C1 + notC2), not-then E;
(iv) where: (C1 + C2) is possible.




























   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26