Comment by spgrk on 30/08/2024 at 07:09 UTC

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My error which I have now corrected: a sufficient cause means that it is determined, not a necessary cause. Nuclear decay has a necessary cause, including the existence of the nucleus, absent which it would not decay. Note that a necessary does NOT mean that the event will necessarily occur, but a sufficient cause does.

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Comment by diogenesthehopeful at 30/08/2024 at 07:19 UTC

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Well I believe cause implies necessity because cause is a logical relation. So "cause" implies logical necessity instead of factual necessity. I can still cause myself to take an umbrella based on the counterfactual that it might rain. A self driving car can swerve (hopefully) based on the belief that it might hit a pedestrian.