Tracing the cause backwards
In chapter 15 of the Epstein book, I liked the section regarding “Tracing the cause backwards”. I found it easy to ready and very entertaining with the illustrations. As described in the book, you only trace back to the first step. If you go further back it “it becomes too hard to fill in the normal conditions”. If you go too far back it makes it unobvious to what actually caused something.
Example: Not studying cause Jane to fail her test.
Jane didn’t study since she was tired. Being tried caused Jane to fail her test.
Jane was tired because she worked all day. Work caused Jane to fail her test.
Jane worked all day because she needed to pay her bills. Bills caused Jane to fail her test.
Jane had to pay her bills since she is she has responsibilities. Responsibilities caused Jane to fail her test.
With this example we could go on forever. Each different cause created the same effect, so it is best to stop at the first step.
K_tab,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post! I agree, the tracing backwards section was entertaining because of the illustrations. :) Along with the illustrations, it was simple to read, which made it easy to understand the concept. Your example was helpful in understanding how tracing backwards too far can causes confusion to what actually created a cause to an effect. You should only trace backwards one step, because tracing backwards can go on and on until you completely forgot what you were trying to figure out. Tracing backwards too far back just makes you think, one little thing, decision, or action can cause a major change in your life (kind of like the butterfly effect theory!)
Hi there!! I've never read any of your posts before because you are so far down on the list!! haha but after reading your posts it seems as though you are doing quite well :) Anyways, I too chose the section on tracing the cause backwards because without knowing that we must stop at the first cause is very important to know! If there were no limits of the cause we would go on forever and ever, trying to find out what the initial cause was and then we might end up forgetting what the problem was in the first place. We would have no answers to the effects. I also think you did a great job with your post because it was really easy to understand. Your examples made the concept of tracing the concept backwards very clear. If I had not read the book before this, I am almost positive I would have learned from your example. Overall, great job! :)
ReplyDeleteI also found the concept “tracing the cause backwards”, to be very interesting. I liked your example because it traced back multiple steps to show the general cause of the effect. Although it is possible to trace the cause backwards forever, you didn’t go too far back so the cause was still obviously relevant to the effect. I liked the example you included and I also really liked your post because it was clear and well organized. I just think that this concept is silly because it is possible to go on forever with the unlimited amount of causes!
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