Question

What is meant by the word ‘cause’ in the following—necessary condition, sufficient condition, or mere tendency?

(a) Throwing a brick through a window causes it to break. (b) Slavery caused the American Civil War.
(c) Exposure to the cold causes frostbite.
(d) Running causes knee injuries.

(e) Closing your eyes causes you not to be able to see.

Answer 1

necessary condition – the only objective required to trigger/influence an outcome

sufficient condition – one of the many objectives required to trigger/influence an outcome

mere tendency – objective that is insufficient to trigger/influence an outcome

(a) Throwing a brick through a window causes it to break.

Answer: Necessary condition.

Reason: Brick is normally heavy and if is thrown at a window, the glass shall shatter. The very brick throwing doesn’t have other outcome. Breakage/damage is the only outcome.

(b) Slavery caused the American Civil War.

Answer: Sufficient condition

Reason: During the civil war time period, people belonging to different states were unsatisfied by the way they were shown partiality. Industrialization, denial of rights, lack of infrastructure in poor states, etc., all became the reason along with slavery for the start of American Civil War.

(c) Exposure to the cold causes frostbite.

Answer: necessary condition

Reason: Cold is a simplified condition of being exposed to lower temperature. This is sufficient for the onset of frostbite.

(d) Running causes knee injuries.

Answer: mere condition

Reason: Running is an exercise and it can improve the health. Getting an injury due to running exists but that cannot be the only chance.

(e) Closing your eyes causes you not to be able to see.

Answer: necessary condition

Reason: closing eyes result in no transfer of light into eye resulting in no light sensing and this means not being able to see. When eyes are closed this is the only outcome possible.