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Quote#Politics & Power

Causation is defined by some modern philosophers as unconditional…

Quote byWilliam Kingdon Clifford · 1845–1879

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: "Energy and Force" (Mar 28, 1873).

English (original)

Causation is defined by some modern philosophers as unconditional uniformity of succession, e.g., existence of fire follows from putting a lighted match to the fuel. This idea must be got rid of to understand force. All universally true laws of nature are laws of co-existence, not succession. ...In every case the law at work is seen to be a law of co-existence, not succession.

— William Kingdon Clifford

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