Wisdom Notes on Philosophy

Causality and Change

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Effect is the product of change, irrespective of whether the change is causal or non-causal. The ability to change allows causality to function. What is it that ties cause to effect?  Cause and effect are tied together by relativity. Everything in the world is relative, including atomic phenomena. The particle is tied to the wave by relativity.[¹]. The particle is an object, a piece of matter; hence it is a relative objectivity. This leaves the wave as a relative subjectivity.

In the drama of creation, the wave precedes the particle. The reason for this is that subjectivity always precedes objectivity, or that objectivity can only be manifested in reality after it has first been created in the subjective mind. (In my metaphysical perspective, the mind that creates objective reality is the subjective mind of God). So the creation of a physical world starts from a scenario of a dynamic sea of energy, of wave motion. Then gradually this energy condenses into static matter. The interaction between wave and particle occurs through causality and/or change.

Some theorists prefer to avoid explanations in terms of cause and effect. They use a perspective of objects and events. This is not a significant variation to the wave-particle pattern. To incorporate the perspective of objects and events, relativity can be recast as:

The objective component is the object.
The subjective component is the event that occurs.

The web of relationships is dynamic and so represents the events perspective. The objective object is the agent of objective causality. The subjective event experiences subjective change. Without objects there is nothing to originate causality. Without events there is nothing to change. Objects and events depend on each other.

Neither an object-orientated theory nor an event-orientated theory can ever be solely fundamental, since each represents just a single perspective on reality. In order to solve paradoxes, two perspectives are required. A paradox is just the result of rolling two perspectives, two dimensions, into one and then using one-dimensional thinking. Within a single perspective, theories based on objects cannot derive change: change has to be given as an axiom. Similarly, theories based on a web of relationships cannot derive cause: cause always has to be an axiom too.

Internal and External Change

I compare the ways that change occurs to matter and to consciousness. The interactions within consciousness, and between wave and particle, occurs through causality and change. Change is relatively subjective, and cause is relatively objective. The central point to understand is that subjectivity always arises first and then generates objectivity. Hence change can occur before cause. This means only that within matter, subjective change results from energy changes (that is, changes in the flow of charge) and is of random character.[²]. Within consciousness, such change can occur through abreaction. This kind of change is internal.

Causality generates directed or focused change. Within matter, change due to relative objectivity relates to space and time (for example: velocity, position). Within consciousness, such change represents social learning and social conditioning.[³]. The kind of change produced by cause is external. These ideas lead to the following summary.

When change is internal:
Change in matter is governed by charge.
Change in consciousness is governed by feeling.

When change is external:
Change in matter relates to space and time.
Change in consciousness relates to social learning and social conditioning.

The preferred use of quantum mechanics for solving problems in atomic theory can lead to the view that all processes are non-causal. This view is only partly correct. Some of the processes are due to change, and so may be non-causal. But others are due to causality. So, too, within consciousness: change can be either causal or non-causal. Non-causal events indicate that chance plays a part in reality and evolution.

The view that the universe is just the product of random events is incorrect, as is the view that it is solely the product of intelligent design. The truth of the matter is relative.

The universe, and all life in it, is the result of random events interacting with intelligent design.

[¹]. A description of relativity, from my viewpoint (which is different from Einstein's viewpoint), is given in the article The Ego and Relativity. [1]

[²]. See the previous article Charge and Feeling. [2]

[³]. Social learning means adopting moral rules by choice. Social conditioning means that moral rules are imposed on the person (usually when he or she  is a child) by social mores. [3]

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