Causal reasoning is reasoning about the causes of events. A causal argument attempts to support a causal claim or hypothesis.
Terms
editA causal claim is a statement which implies that one event caused or causes another.
A causal hypothesis is a causal claim put forward to explain the cause or effect of something, when the cause or effect has not yet been conclusively established.
Causation among specific events
edit- Only-Relevant-Difference reasoning
- Only-Relevant-Common-Thread reasoning
Common fallacies in causal reasoning
edit- Mistakes in Only-Relevant-Difference reasoning
- Mistakes in Only-Relevant-Common-Thread reasoning
- Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc
- Overlooking possible coincidences
- Other issues
Causation in populations
edit- cause-to-effect
- effect-to-cause