Cause and effect is a logical relationship. Criteria and examples

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

What is a consequence? This is primarily part of the logical relationship "cause and effect", where the second is the result of the first. This is a philosophical category, a combination of action (inaction) and reaction to it.

Examples

• Cigarette smoking leads to lung cancer.
• He broke his arm. The doctor applied a cast.
• The boss was busy. His secretary received the message.
• I hit the switch. The light came on.
• Sedentary lifestyle causes problems with excess weight, heart and joints.

Criteria

Cause and effect is a relationship that must meet three basic criteria. One of them is the temporal primacy of the cause. So, for example, you first need to put water on fire - the molecules will begin to move faster, and then the water will boil. Boiling is a consequence of placing a container of water on the stove burner.

Besides, the effect must necessarily occur if there was a cause. Accordingly, in the absence of the latter, there is no result; the parameters of these two events are directly proportional. For example, with a loud soundthe baby will cry; if no sound is heard, the baby will have no reason to cry. In this case, the consequence is the baby's emotional reaction to an external event; the more intense this event (that is, the louder the sound), the more frightened the baby.

The third criterion is ambiguous. Modern philosophy believes that cause and effect is a relationship that cannot be described by any other factors than those listed. If a baby is crying for no apparent reason, he may either beg for food, need a diaper change, or call for his mother. But in theory, using only the terms of cause and effect, it is impossible to determine exactly why the child is upset at this particular moment. This relationship is analyzed only with the help of temporal predetermination and the continuity of cause and effect.