Causation Definition

In the simplest terms, causation is the relationship between an event (the cause) and a second event (the effect), where the second event is understood as a consequence of the first.

Causation is a central concept in many areas of study, including philosophy, physics, sociology, psychology, statistics, and economics. In general, scholars seek to identify causes and effects in order to better understand how things work and why they happen.

There are different types of causation. One common distinction is between direct and indirect causation. Direct causation occurs when the cause and effect are directly related; that is, when the cause results in the effect without any intervening variables. Indirect causation occurs when there are one or more intermediate variables that affect both the cause and the effect.

Causation can also be classified as immediate or mediate. Immediate causation occurs when the cause and effect are simultaneous; that is, when there is no time lag between the two events. Mediate causation occurs when there is a temporal gap between the cause and effect; that is, when the cause precedes the effect.

Another way to think about causation is in terms of necessary and sufficient conditions. A necessary condition for an event to occur is something that must be present in order for the event to happen; a sufficient condition for an event to occur is something that, if present, will guarantee that the event will happen. Necessary and sufficient conditions are not always