Causality is difficult. One of the most important factors for asserting (but not proving) that x does indeed cause y is that you have a plausible, working mechanism for how x causes y....
Causality is difficult.
One of the most important factors for asserting (but not proving) that x does indeed cause y is that you have a plausible, working mechanism for how x causes y.
Correlation, famously, doesn't imply causation. But Correlation with clear and probable mechaism(s) was Hume's revolutionary insight into why proving causation isn't necessary or even wanted for making smarter, evidence-based decisions in our lives.
Causality is difficult.
One of the most important factors for asserting (but not proving) that x does indeed cause y is that you have a plausible, working mechanism for how x causes y.
Correlation, famously, doesn't imply causation. But Correlation with clear and probable mechaism(s) was Hume's revolutionary insight into why proving causation isn't necessary or even wanted for making smarter, evidence-based decisions in our lives.
There was another nice thread recently about causation here. (I raised the exact same point as you about mechanistic explanations. 🙂)