Cause and Effect

The logical axiom of 'cause and effect' enjoys almost canonical status in Western thought. However, it is a perversion of our logic to regard a part as self-subsistent from the whole necessitating certain events.

We speak of causes as if they are necessary to produce certain effects. In reality they are merely sufficient. Take for example:

(1) Since the match was struck, the candle lit

This suggests that the striking of the match necessitated the lighting of the candle without recourse to other aspects of the causal circumstance. Reality is much more complicated- without the dryness of the match and the high oxygen level in the room the candle would not have lit. It would be more proper to speak of 'causal circumstance and effect' not 'cause and effect.'