tag name Causality (causation) type: Philosophy; Religion, general; Science: natural, social, and applied web link bahai-library.com/tags/Causality_(causation) variations or mis-spellings four causes; randomness related tags – Concepts, Philosophical; – Concepts, Science; Aristotle; Creation; Primal Will; Proofs referring tags Cause and effect; Root causes Inventory subject Absolute freedom; independence of God; Four causes; Teleology; goal-directed motion notes "... Essential pre-existence is an existence which is not preceded by a cause; essential origination is preceded by a cause. Temporal pre-existence has no beginning; temporal origination has both a beginning and an end. For the existence of each and every thing depends upon four causes: the efficient cause, the material cause, the formal cause, and the final cause. So this chair has a creator who is a carpenter, a matter which is wood, a form which is that of a chair, and a purpose which is to serve as a seat. Therefore, this chair is essentially originated, for it is preceded by, and its existence is conditioned upon, a cause. This is called essential or intrinsic origination. The world of existence, in relation to its Creator, is intrinsically originated. For example, this house, in relation to its builder, is intrinsically originated. Likewise, since the body depends upon and is sustained by the spirit, it is, in relation to the spirit, essentially originated. Conversely, the spirit can dispense with the body and is therefore essentially pre-existent in relation to the body. Although the rays are always inseparable from the sun, the sun is pre-existent and the rays are originated; for the existence of the rays depends upon that of the sun, but the converse does not hold true: The sun is the bestower of grace and the rays are the grace itself...
– 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, chapter 80 Pre-existence and Origination"... As we... reflect with broad minds upon this infinite universe, we observe that motion without a motive force, and an effect without a cause are both impossible; that every being hath come to exist under numerous influences and continually undergoeth reaction. These influences, too, are formed under the action of still other influences. For instance, plants grow and flourish through the outpourings of vernal showers, whilst the cloud itself is formed under various other agencies and these agencies in their turn are reacted upon by still other agencies. For example, plants and animals grow and develop under the influence of what the philosophers of our day designate as hydrogen and oxygen and are reacted upon by the effects of these two elements; and these in turn are formed under still other influences. The same can be said of other beings whether they affect other things or be affected. Such process of causation goes on, and to maintain that this process goes on indefinitely is manifestly absurd. Thus such a chain of causation must of necessity lead eventually to Him who is the Ever-Living, the All-Powerful, who is Self-Dependent and the Ultimate Cause. This Universal Reality cannot be sensed, it cannot be seen. It must be so of necessity, for it is All-Embracing, not circumscribed, and such attributes qualify the effect and not the cause...
– 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet to Dr. Forel
references en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_causes; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_cause; www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/search#q=Causation; www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/search#q="Four causes"
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