Simplifying Causality: A Brief Review of Philosophical Views and Definitions with Examples from Economics, Education, Medicine, Policy, Physics and Engineering

TL;DR

This paper provides a simplified overview of philosophical perspectives on causality, including definitions and examples across diverse fields, aimed at helping newcomers understand causal concepts.

Contribution

It offers a concise synthesis of major philosophical approaches to causality, with practical examples from multiple disciplines, making complex ideas accessible.

Findings

Four main approaches to causality are explained.

Examples from economics, education, medicine, policy, physics, and engineering illustrate each approach.

The review aims to aid beginners in understanding causality and causal inference.

Abstract

This short paper compiles the big ideas behind some philosophical views, definitions, and examples of causality. This collection spans the realms of the four commonly adopted approaches to causality: Humes regularity, counterfactual, manipulation, and mechanisms. This short review is motivated by presenting simplified views and definitions and then supplements them with examples from various fields, including economics, education, medicine, politics, physics, and engineering. It is the hope that this short review comes in handy for new and interested readers with little knowledge of causality and causal inference.