Full Idea
The cause, philosophically speaking, is the sum total of the conditions, positive and negative taken together; the whole of the contigencies of every description, which being realized, the consequent invariably follows.
Gist of Idea
The strict cause is the total positive and negative conditions which ensure the consequent
Source
John Stuart Mill (System of Logic [1843], 3.05.3)
Book Reference
Mill,John Stuart: 'System of Logic (9th ed, 2 vols)' [Longmans, Green etc 1875], p.383
A Reaction
This somewhat notorious remark is not going to be much help in a law court or a laboratory. It is that view which says that the Big Bang must be included in every causal list ever compiled. Well, yes...