Immature Notions of Cause and Effect.

Posted on August 9, 2007
Filed Under Journal, Society |

Mississippi Bridge The Effect: A bridge collapsed, people died. The Cause: Poor bridge maintenance. That’s fairly easy to grasp, most people can get their heads around it; simple Cause and Effect. But how far can the notion of cause and effect be taken? Start poking around beyond the obvious outline mentioned above, and it is sure to provoke any number of reactions, from confusion to hostility. The other side of this of course is that people are very quick to attempt to assign blame. After all, it must be someone’s fault…right? Well yes no doubt there are people to blame, but no one single person. As with all these situations pretty much everyone can be assigned some “blame”, including those people who were driving across the bridge everyday.

Believe that to be a bit of a crazy assertion? Insensitive perhaps? Yes, it’s those things and more, but there is an element of truth in that claim.

Some find it a struggle to see the connected patterns that overlay our world. A village gets swamped under a mudslide as the nearby cliffs fall. The Effect: A village is swamped, people died. The Cause: A mudslide from a collapsing cliff. People can see that clearly enough - after all it is self evident. Now, speak of the fact of years of mining under those cliffs, and logging trees that held the earth in place. Ok, an obvious fact - but not easily swallowed as it kicks the emotions somewhat. An issue made even more sensitive due to the fact that the miners and loggers lived in the very village now covered with millions of tons of mud. The notion of Cause and Effect begins to take on emotional undercurrents…people get angry and bewildered at such assertions.

Mudslide - result of Cause and Effect

Take the notion of cause and effect a bit further. The metal was being mined due to economic pressures upon the village. A means of trade to supply distant business interests. Metal used to construct ships, planes, missiles, vehicles and weapons for the use in war. Wars created to suit the financial interests of governments and businesses - all in the aim of maintaining the of lines essential resource supplies.

Yes, now eyes glaze over. The emotions kick in. Maybe even the odd accusation of “Conspiracy Theorist” (a new catch all term much like the term “Witchcraft” was used centuries ago).

The Effect: Lack of Bridge Maintenance. The Cause: Lack of Funding. No funding because the money isn’t available. Money which isn’t available because it was deemed unnecessary. Money which isn’t available due to economic instability, created from decades of using an unsustainable economic model. Money used to fund unending wars, governments and businesses.

No cause and effect situation is a standalone issue. Repercussion fall like dominoes until the eventual inevitable conclusion - all readily apparent years in advance to those willing to look. But many don’t look. Many won’t look. Ignorance, fear and skepticism.

Funny thing is those traits are also an Effect. The Cause? Look away, look away - no one wants to know the cause…

Comments

2 Responses to “Immature Notions of Cause and Effect.”

Chris on August 26th, 2007 10:24 pm

If simultaneous time is a reality, and linear time is only a perception, then it becomes possible perhaps to supercede the notions of things in the past affecting the future.
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Marcus on August 26th, 2007 10:42 pm

Indeed. You may have been referring to this - but I wrote more about it here:

Non-linear Time

I suspect this is a part of what synchronicities are about. It would also be possible that part of our awareness exists in simultaneous time, so-to-speak. To some extent it’s possible to be aware of “future” events before they happen, simply because there are indicators around us all the time. ‘Reference points’ which from our perception, link multiple events across time. It’s like following the threads of a web, up close you may only be able to see a single strand…but regardless of what you perceive the rest still exist simultaneously.
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