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The Law Of Cause and Effect

There are many interpretations of the Law of Cause and Effect. On a personal scale, there can be no effect or success achieved if the cause or action doesn't first happen in the individual. For there to be any measure of success, there has to be an earlier corresponding course of action. The ideal is to input a cause (action) that will derive a predicted effect (success). But because of intervening factors, sometimes things don't work out as one planned or anticipated.

Cause and effect is the basis of much of math, scientific theory and all logic. On a daily basis we use as much of it as we can to make our lives easier. Without it we wouldn't be able to reason. We wouldn't be able to plan for the future.

Opposite ends of cause and effect examples include the tsunami that hit South Asia in 2004 and a moving magnet that creates electricity. When the earth's plates shifted under the ocean the ocean water rose in waves that struck land. It's a straightforward cause and effect.

When a magnet moving inside a closed coil of wire induces an electric current along the wire, it's not so straightforward anymore. Although we see the cause and effect, we just don't understand why it works that way. But we accept it. We have to.

The law of cause and effect states that if you can identify a cause then there needs to be an effect. Like two sides of an equal sign, both are needed to keep the equation in balance.

The law of cause and effect, or causality, simply states that without a cause things cannot be. This does not mean that an effect is in direct proportion to its cause. A simple misspoken word can lead to separation between lovers, for example.

A war could be lost simply because a soldier had a jammed rifle. Our giant Universe was believed to have always existed, but now we know that it was caused by a small spark called The Big Bang.

Practical Use Of The Law Of Cause And Effect

The law of cause and effect has been well established in science, logic, and daily life. This is something that every person uses to prepare a meal, to find the most profit from a course of action, or to find employment. Doing certain things leads to certain outcomes. There is logic in the world.

A cause not occurring may be a conclusion to an alternate theory. There are many theorems (hypothesis) that attempt to prove the opposite of what is believed to be true. If something can't be proven to be false, then it must be true. As theoretical as it sounds, it is still a practical application of the law of cause and effect.

We use cause and effect to improve our lot. Just like the theorem above, identifying and eliminating causes of negative effects can lead to the opposite and desirable outcome. Conversely, identifying what causes good outcomes makes us want to archive the results and apply those causes over and over.

When Not To Use The Law Of Cause And Effect

The Human Mind

The human mind itself is not fertile ground for applying the law of cause and effect. Peoples and cultures vary. Religion may have a tremendous effect upon what an individual may conclude and do. One should use care when dealing with a different culture. There usually isn't one single cause that will lead to an effect.

It is most often a combination of factors that create a cause which lead to an effect. Dealing with someone or a people from a different culture can easily show where the effect is very disproportionate to the cause. One single word or phrase can lead to a catastrophic consequence.

Statistics

We also need to differentiate between cause and effect and not confuse it with statistics. An African nomad knows where to dig for water in the desert because of the tiniest signs of vegetation on the desert floor. He knows nothing about the cause and effect such as rainwater that seeps into the earth or underwater springs. Although he doesn't know it, he relies on statistics (the ground vegetation) to predict effects or results.

Many times statistics are more reliable than attempting to find a cause and effect. It is sometimes better to say that x% of people in a group will perform a certain action than trying to identify the exact individuals who will take the action. Be weary of the law of cause and effect when the tool you need is statistics.

But the law of cause and effect won’t go away. Recognizing the results that are clearly obvious like a tsunami and accepting those results we only know as true, like electricity, leads to a happier life. It's kinda nice to know that there is logic in the world. It puts many things into clear perspective.

The previous article is on Getting Things Done.

Other wiki resources: personal development; goal setting; getting things done; cause and effect; creative visualization