Full Idea
The best known account of causal inference is Mill's Method of Agreement (only one antecedent is shared by the effects), and the Method of Difference (there is only one difference prior to the effect occurring or not occurring).
Gist of Idea
Causal inference is by spotting either Agreements or Differences
Source
report of John Stuart Mill (System of Logic [1843], 3.07) by Peter Lipton - Inference to the Best Explanation (2nd) 01 'Descr'
Book Reference
Lipton,Peter: 'Inference to the Best Explanation (2nd ed)' [Routledge 2004], p.18
A Reaction
[my summary of Lipton's summary of Mill]
Related Ideas
Idea 16835 The Methods of Difference and of Agreement are forms of inference to the best explanation [Mill, by Lipton]
Idea 16843 Mill's methods (Difference,Agreement,Residues,Concomitance,Hypothesis) don't nail induction [Mill, by Lipton]