The influence one event, process, or state, has on another event, process, or state, whereby the latter is at least partly dependent on the former.
Questions tagged [causality]
1046 questions
11
votes
5 answers
The relativistic principle of causality
From Wikipedia:
"The relativistic principle of causality says that the cause must precede its effect according to all inertial observers"
What exactly does this mean?
Also, is it an assumption or is proven?
I was looking for something in…
user45922
7
votes
7 answers
Examples of events that are unpredictable as a matter of principle?
Are there examples of phenomena/events/states of affairs (henceforth "events") whose outcomes are thought to be unpredictable, even in principle?
I.e. are there events such that if one had access to all the relevant information, and knowledge of…
deadcode
- 213
5
votes
4 answers
Causality and Determinism
If one has a deterministic model of physics, why is causality so important?
Let's work in a fixed frame. Suppose that event A in the future causes event B, which happens before event A. Now, given the conditions at some time $t_0$ before both events…
Davidac897
- 717
5
votes
3 answers
Is there any confirmed counterexample to causality in nature?
I have a simple question regarding the law of causality. Is there any phenomenon or process in physics that does not obey the principle of causality? Such a phenomenon doesn't have to be deterministic.
Luxdragon
- 125
- 4
3
votes
4 answers
When does causation take time?
I apologize in advance if this is an elementary question. I am a statistician and would like to use an assumption in a statistical method, but I don't know if the assumption usually holds in nature.
I would like to assume that, if $X$ causes $Y$,…
John Doe
- 139
2
votes
3 answers
Do physicists need the idea of 'cause' or 'causation' to do physics?
Do physicists need the idea of 'cause' or 'causation' to do physics?
Does it appear in physics, either in theory, answered here, or in experiment? In a way analogous to how names and mathematics do.
If not, then it seems like a folk concept which…
user85068
1
vote
1 answer
Are bigger phenomena always a consequence of smaller phenomena?
Not a physicist.
I am asking about causality here. If I look at matter as made of smaller chunks of matter, and there is a limited speed of information propagation, small can explain big, given a conventional time arrow.
But if matter is made of…
Winston
- 3,226
1
vote
0 answers
On causality in physics: is the concept of cause an operational concept in physics?
This is a broad question motivated by philosophical interests. I hope it will not be considered as off topic.
What I am looking for is a technical answer reflecting the standard conception of nowadays physics.
Let me give some details regarding…
user229097
-1
votes
3 answers
Can a causal relationship ever be established with absolute certainty (in principle)?
Is it possible in principle to ever establish or prove a causal relationship exists between two variables or events?
-1
votes
1 answer
Why could superluminal communication send information to the past
I was wondering why could superluminal communication send information to the past.
From wiki
Superluminal communication is believed to be impossible because, in a
Lorentz-invariant theory, it could be used to transmit information into
the…
Greg7000
- 123
-3
votes
1 answer
Is anything in the universe instantaneous?
By my logic, there should be some time lag between the action and the reaction, however small the lag.So can we say that an effect to a reaction happens instantaneously in our universe?
Atri De
- 13