1-MINUTE HOT TOPIC

Is cause and effect certain?

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Author and Natural Philosopher

Follow On Facebook and Youtube!
Reading Material: 
Videos: 
Causation versus Correlation
Reasoning < Five Thought Tools < TST Framework < Critical Thinking
Share :
Email
Print

Is cause and effect certain?

We experience the world through patterns—drop a ball, and it falls. Light a fire, and it burns. But does that mean cause and effect are certain?

Scottish philosopher David Hume didn’t think so. He pointed out that just because something always happens in our experience doesn’t mean it must happen. We assume the sun will rise tomorrow because it always has—but that assumption is based on habit, not certainty.

This is where critical thinking steps in. When we say one thing “causes” another, are we identifying a true cause or just a correlation? Is there hidden complexity? Could an unseen factor be at play?

Instead of assuming cause and effect as absolute, critical thinkers demand evidence, logic, and skepticism before drawing conclusions. So next time you hear “X causes Y,” pause. Ask: Is this a certainty, or just a strong habit of thought?

In the TST Framework, “Is cause and effect certain?” falls under Logical Analysis and Evidence-Based Reasoning, challenging assumptions about causation and requiring scrutiny of whether observed patterns indicate certainty or mere correlation. It also ties into the Mind Trap of Assumption, where people mistake repeated events for causal relationships without verifying underlying mechanisms. Critical thinkers must question, test, and demand evidence before accepting cause-effect claims.

In philosophy and critical thinking, we question whether cause and effect are certain—but in spiritual traditions like Hinduism and Buddhism, karma suggests a deeper, unseen connection. Do our actions truly shape our destiny, or are we just following patterns we assume to be true?
Share this on...

Comments

Join the Conversation! Currently logged out.

KEEP GOING!

Just 4 minutes a week.

Weekly Wisdom Builder 
4 minutes of leisurely exploration.
February 5, 2025 Edition
Quote of the Week
Time Left: 

Email Notification
Subscribe to our Weekly Wisdom BuilderIt’s Free! No ads! No catches! One email each Thursday.

Exactly what the world needs RIGHT NOW!
Wisdom at the crossroads of knowledge.

Wisdom emerges from the consistent exploration of the intersections of philosophy, science, critical thinking, and history.

NEW BOOK! NOW AVAILABLE!!

30 Philosophers: A New Look at Timeless Ideas

by Michael Alan Prestwood
The story of the history of our best ideas!
divider-red-swirls1.png
Scroll to Top