Full Idea
We sometimes single out one among all the causes of some event and call it 'the' cause. ..We may select the abnormal causes, or those under human control, or those we deem good or bad, or those we want to talk about. This is invidious discrimination.
Gist of Idea
It is just individious discrimination to pick out one cause and label it as 'the' cause
Source
David Lewis (Causation [1973])
Book Reference
Lewis,David: 'Philosophical Papers Vol.2' [OUP 1986], p.162
A Reaction
This is the standard view expressed by Mill - presumably the obvious empiricist line. But if we specify 'the pre-conditions' for an event, we can't just mention ANY fact prior to the effect - there is obvious relevance. So why not for 'the' cause as well?