Are there any effects without a cause?

Question

I learned, and still believe, that cause and effect were inextricably linked. That every effect (result) had a cause, but I have recently been exposed to some ideas that some effects can not and do not have causes. (the universe and consciousness for example) I realize that some things are and we just don't know any cause yet but it seems to me illogical to espouse seriously that maybe some things do not have causes rather than saying honestly, "I don't know."

For "hiphopanonymous";

I am getting it. I have had the treacherous thought, at risk of being thought of as satanically desiring to be God, that humans (rational beings) purpose in the universe is to ultimately learn how to and create universes since our universe has a finite lifetime.

For "sristi";

This may be a response to other answers as well. Yours made me think. God, consciousness and the unverse may be effects without causes. They are the ultimate. The existence of God (a creator) and the extent of the "universe" (all that is) can't be understood (by my consciousness anyway) as scientific facts so can't be considered reality really. They are inponderables. They may have a cause if we could only get some more evidence about them. I, personally, don't want to know ALL; it seems like it would be the end. If God exists as a consciousness he must be ignorant of some things and still learning or else cease. So I'm happy to say, "I don't know."

For MW;

That is my "gut feeling" that everything has a cause. I have used the term effect for some things that some question whether they have a cause. That's not right for an effect by definition has a cause. God, consciousness, the universe are such things "without a cause" according to these experts. Trials I know are effects having a cause; these "no cause things" are such a trial. By the way it probably was Newton who said, "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." It's one of his "Laws".

For NBM;

I'm very interested in this "authentic self." Authentic means, "worthy of acceptance because of accuracy" Science, which you say is primitive, prides itself on striving for accuracy. Why? because those who do not adhere to the scientific method have had such a reputation for inaccuracy. Yet I also have a gut feeling despite this necessary disavowal by scientists, that there is a cause for these "uncaused things". Am I being an authentic self?.

For "cosmicvoyager";

I am familiar with both the "many worlds" premise of quantum theory and the many dimensions theories of modern physics, but I wonder whether it can be called anything other than speculation to say, "there is a singular god of great power" acting from these dimensions when there is no known way of getting to these dimensions to prove it. It seems that scientists who think this are "men of faith" too. Is faith (as defined in the Bible, Hebrews 11) and its hope a cause of these many worlds, many dimensions theories?

For shanavez k,

Your answer's last sentence says it all. "Without cause there is no thinking..." Those scientists who propose that consciousness is an "emergent property" of the material brain (and thus uncaused) are thinking but without understanding or questioning how those thoughts arise from seeming unexceptional molecules there, in the brain, but "nowhere else?" Neurons are not a particularly phenomenal cell; is thought all due to how neurons are arranged and interact one with another? Or is how they are arranged and interact due to that (or some) consciousness acting on them? There would seem to be, as you state, no thinking without a cause.

Answer 1

Ummm......those would be 'special effects'

Answer 2

I'm right in there with NBM ( fabulous answer my friend ).

There is no effect without cause, in any realm. However, as he implies a great part of the problem that our current 'science' has is that effects can have causes outside of this Relative/Physical realm. The quantum 'world' is opening our eyes to these possibilities, 'stuff' that appears to waver in and out of 'existence' here, by some what are called 'probability waves'.

This physical realm is enfolded within countless others of differing vibrational levels, and what is 'happening' here has countless 'reflections' in other realms, this is simply because the same energy is neing used to construct all 'realities' at the same time, and sometimes these manifestations may 'spill over' into each other.

But regardless of whether a particular ( hehehehe ) effect's cause can be observed here, or not, there always is one.

The great 'God' question is included in this, if there were such a thing as a 'singular' entity of great power, to fit the image that most have, this entity would still have some kind of cause .... some 'where'. :-)))

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Answer 3

Within this Universe, which is bounded by constant physical laws, there is no causeless effect; "Before" (if the word is appropriate here) the origin of the Universe, the physical laws which applied may have been entirely different, and causeless effect may have been possible.

It seems there are a few approaches to this:

1. An omnipotent God created everything by force of will and established the rules which now apply. This first cause would by definition be the prime mover.

2. The Universe was bound by rules which did not apply elsewhere. This is equivalent to "Maybe, but I don't know."

3. Everything is eternal and we cannot pinpoint the first cause of anything. This essentially ignores the problem of first cause.

Answer 4

Yes, I believe cause and effect go hand in hand, even when the effect is not apparent from a cause or vice-versa. This especially seems to hold true in matters of the heart and spirituality. I don't know why bad things happen to innocents, but I believe the Creator does a 'balancing act' in many things which we are unable to percieve. So, for now, many things simply go on 'open file'...and my answer is simply 'I don't know'. Someday, I believe we will see these hidden Truths. I sure would like to understand. Thanks for the thought-provoking question and may God Bless.

Answer 5

i guess I'll have to call the philosopher Hume into this one. When one sees or perceives with one's senses that A happened after B-for example, the roasted chicken came after a trip to the supermarket- one usually says that A caused B.
But what is damning is, what we perceived is A happened then B happened-but we did not perceive A CAUSING B. There is no way one can do that.

This has some connection to a question I posted some time ago. About the real connection between cause and effect, that is causality.

Answer 6

Cause and effect are NEVER separated, despite one'e inability to trace the causality. We still live in scientifically primitive times, but Spinoza was right and M. Eckhart before him, among others. (AND all the religious adepts who have offered paths for achieving coherence between consciousness/being and reality for thousands of years.)

God/Reality/Universe is the multi-dimensional (quantum) field we are embedded in that is responsive to the contents of consciousness both individuality and en masse. When choice/experience synchronize, people imagine a personified deity 'caring' about them and call it a miracle. Reality is neutral. Our brain is evolving greater capacity for creative thought - while our learned ego tends to be at the mercy of the original reptilian and old mammalian apparatus and reactions of childhood. We are capable of immense conflictedness until the authentic Self observes and discards the ego's distortions and stabilizes cause and effect and reality mirrors being and purpose.

We are all gods in our capacity to create/cause effects - but do it haphazardly while at the mercy of ego misperceptions based on subconscious beliefs.

Answer 7

Law of Cause and Effect applies to everything. It is one of the most fundamental universal principles. However just because we don't know what the cause is, doesn't mean there is no cause, it just means we don't know the cause.
Some good questions to ask and ponder over are: what is the cause of perfect health, what is the cause of abundant wealth, what is the cause of healthy relationships. If a person wants to change his life he must be able to see the causes of his experiences.
Without the knowledge of Universal Principles as Cause and Effect., Law of Relativity. Law of Polarity, Law of Rhythm, Law of Vibration just to name a few, one experiences life as un-orderly or chaotic and falls into the error of presuming we are victims with little control or power to change.

Answer 8

If a person slips from a mountain top, there is no cause. He never thought he would die. Except for such accidents every other effects have some cause. Without thinking there is no acting. Without cause there is no thinking and acting.

Answer 9

there may not be effects sometimes, but for any effect there is always a cause. but to provide explanation for all the effects, my reply is - present day science could only go to the extent of some fraction of what is actually in store. then you can imagine our knowledge. the fraction we claim to be so advanced, then what would happen when we are able to 100% per cent of it. many things are yet to be explored. till then we should be happy with question mark!

Answer 10

how can there be an effect without a cause?
the reason we cannot answer this relating to the universe or consciousness is we just dont know..but that does not mean we can assume there is no cause..
we can guess that there is a cause as everything else does..

Answer 11

that's pretty deep....but what if the human being itself were the start of all causes?.....by our actions, words, thoughts, movements, everything!.....i mean what's the universe's purpose?...who knows really...but somehow we are one of them are we not?........maybe i'm not getting ur point right...but these are my thoughts on it... We are links ourselves to what is happening around us....and since we basically LIVE in the universe somewhat...we are linked to it too....so i think it would be fair to say that we are some wat a cause...and we somewhat cause effects around us...sorry if you're not getting it...


to add to your additional comment.... i guess the only thing stopping the humans would be... the simple question... how do u create an infinte universe...within an already existing infinite one?....if we can't even explore the depths of it.... how can we exapnd it and make it even deeper?....right?...i think our purpose as human's are to be the best we can be...i feel like we are meerly experiments....that are to be who we are...which are humans...and let our minds wander beyond to these thoughts and questions....but i dont think our sole purpose is to create another universe...because what is the point if we don't even understand the one we have now?...
btw i'm soo glad u got it!...i hope we can keep understand each other...if i'm understanding yours! haha