Single Idea 14560

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 8. Particular Causation / b. Causal relata]

Full Idea

If I consider a ball that lies on a stuffed pillow and makes a dent in it as a cause, it is simultaneous with its effect. Yet I distinguish the two by means of the temporal relation of the dynamical connection.

Gist of Idea

A ball denting a pillow seems like simultaneous cause and effect, though time identifies which is cause

Source

Immanuel Kant (Critique of Pure Reason [1781], B248/A203)

Book Reference

Kant,Immanuel: 'Critique of Pure Reason', ed/tr. Guyer,P /Wood,A W [CUO 1998], p.312


A Reaction

Mumford and Lill Anjum use this example to defend simultaneous cause and effect, whereas Kant seems to be in the grip of an a priori assumption that cause must come first. At the micro level Kant may be right. Two books lean on one another?

Related Idea

Idea 23787 If causes and effects overlap, that makes changes impossible [Williams,NE]