Causality and Change
| A Modern Thinker | Philosophy .of |
Psychology . Science . Metaphysics |
Causality . and . Change
Causality is different from change, and yet they are related to each other. Change can occur either before cause or after it. Change can generate causality, and causality can generate change. In the world of the atom, some events are the result of change, and some are the result of causality.
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 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 sea of energy, of wave motion. Then gradually this energy condenses into matter. The interaction between wave and particle occurs through causality and change, or cause and effect.
Effect is only change. The ability to change allows causality to function. Cause and effect are tied together by relativity. In my understanding of relativity, it ties together subjectivity with objectivity. Change is relatively subjective, and cause is relatively objective. A subjective change prepares the way for an objective cause. An objective cause generates another subjective change (as an effect). In cause and effect both objective and subjective aspects of relativity interact to produce the final result.
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. I repeat two statements from the previous article Waves and Particles.
The objective component of relativity is the particle.
The subjective component of relativity is the wave.
To incorporate the perspective of objects and events, relativity can be recast as :
The objective component is the object.
The subjective component is the events that occur.
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. [¹]. 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
The interaction between Being and Becoming, 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. Within consciousness, such change can occur through abreaction. This kind of change is internal. [²]
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. The kind of change produced by cause is external.
Hence :
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.
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 number in brackets at the end of each reference takes you back to the paragraph that featured it.
[¹]. The method of solving paradoxes, such
as the wave - particle paradox, is to use two concepts that are
in opposition to each other. This method assumes that there are
two axes, or perspectives, to reality.
See the article The Antinomies of
Kant. [1]
[²]. See the article Charge & Feeling. [2]
The articles in this section are :
Causality & Change
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© 2003 Ian Heath
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Ian Heath
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