Causality

causality is efficacy, by which one process or state, a cause, contributes to the production of another process or state, an effect, where the cause is partly responsible for the effect, and the effect is partly dependent on the cause
“we should not confuse relationships & laws with causes” ~ VSauce

Causality Types

Deterministic Causality - if 𝐴 causes 𝐵, then 𝐴 must always be followed by 𝐵 (Deterministic CPD)
Non-Deterministic Causality - if 𝐴 causes 𝐵, then 𝐴 is followed by 𝐵 with some probability (Conditional Probability Distribution)

Causality Types

Causality Types	Description
Necessary Cause	if 𝑋 is a necessary cause of 𝑌, then the presence of 𝑌 necessarily implies the prior occurrence of 𝑋 the presence of 𝑋 does not imply that 𝑌 will occur
Sufficient Cause	if 𝑋 is a sufficient cause of 𝑌, then the presence of 𝑋 necessarily implies the subsequent occurrence of 𝑌 the presence of 𝑌 does not imply the prior occurrence of 𝑋, because another cause 𝑍 may alternatively cause 𝑌
Contributory Cause	if 𝑋 is a contributory cause of 𝑌, then presence of 𝑋 must increase the likelihood of 𝑌 a contributory cause is a sufficient cause, if the likelihood is 100% a contributory cause may also be necessary
INUS Condition J. L. Mackie	an effect 𝑌 can be caused by a number of distinct clusters of causes, where each cluster is a Sufficient but Unnecessary cause of effect 𝑌 (𝐴&𝐵&𝐶 or 𝐷&𝐸&𝐹 or 𝐺&𝐻&𝐼) ↔ 𝑌 which should be read as both: all (𝐴&𝐵&𝐶 or 𝐷&𝐸&𝐹 or 𝐺&𝐻&𝐼) are followed by 𝑌 all 𝑌 are preceded by (𝐴&𝐵&𝐶 or 𝐷&𝐸&𝐹 or 𝐺&𝐻&𝐼) Therefore, 𝐴 is an Insufficient but Necessary part of a cluster which is itself Unnecessary but Sufficient (INUS) condition for 𝑌 example INUS condition short circuits is an INUS condition for fire (short-circuits&oxygen&inflammable-material?.. or ?&? or …) ↔ fire explanation: short circuits is an Insufficient part because it cannot cause the fire on its own (other conditions such as oxygen, inflammable material, etc. should be present) short circuits is a Necessary part because, without it, the rest of the conditions are not sufficient for the fire short circuits is a part of the cluster that is Sufficient cause for fire (the whole includes oxygen, the presence of inflammable material, etc.) short circuits is a part of the cluster that is Unnecessary cause for fire since some other cluster of conditions, for example, an arsonist with gasoline, can produce the fire example INUS condition:

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