THE LOGIC OF CAUSATION

© Avi Sion, 2008, 2010. All rights reserved.

Phase Three: Software Assisted Analysis

The approach in the second phase was very ‘manual’ and time consuming; the third phase is intended to ‘mechanize’ much of the work involved by means of spreadsheets (to begin with). This increases reliability of calculations (though no errors were found, in fact) – and also allows for a wider scope. Indeed, we are now able to produce a larger, 4-item grand matrix, and on its basis find the moduses of causative and other forms needed to investigate 4-item syllogism. As well, now each modus can be interpreted with greater precision and causation can be more precisely defined and treated.

In this latest phase, the research is brought to a successful finish! Its main ambition, to obtain a complete and reliable listing of all 3-item and 4-item causative syllogisms, being truly fulfilled. This was made technically feasible, in spite of limitations in computer software and hardware, by cutting up problems into smaller pieces. For every mood of the syllogism, it was thus possible to scan for conclusions ‘mechanically’ (using spreadsheets), testing all forms of causative and preventive conclusions. Until now, this job could only be done ‘manually’, and therefore not exhaustively and with certainty. It took over 72’000 pages of spreadsheets to generate the sought for conclusions.

This is a historic breakthrough for causal logic and logic in general. Of course, not all conceivable issues are resolved. There is still some work that needs doing, notably with regard to 5-item causative syllogism. But what has been achieved solves the core problem. The method for the resolution of all outstanding issues has definitely now been found and proven. The only obstacle to solving most of them is the amount of labor needed to produce the remaining (less important) tables. As for 5-item syllogism, bigger computer resources are also needed.

17.     Resuming the Research

Tables:  17.1  17.2  17.3  17.4  17.5  17.6

18.     Moduses of the Forms

Tables:  18.1  18.2  18.3  18.4  18.5  18.6  18.7  18.8  18.9  18.10

19.     Defining Causation

Tables:  19.1  19.2

20.     Concerning Complements

Tables:  20.1  20.2  add

21.     Causative Syllogisms

Tables:  21.1  21.2  21.3  21.4  21.5  21.6  21.7  21.8  21.9  21.10

22.     Scanning for Conclusions

Tables:  22.1  22.2  22.3  22.4  22.5  22.6-0  22.6-1  22.6-2  22.6-3  22.6-4  22.7-0  22.7-4  22.7-5  and:

22.7-11A  22.7-11B  22.7-12A  22.7-12B  22.7-13A  22.7-13B  22.7-14A  22.7-14B  22.7-15A  22.7-15B  22.7-16A  22.7-16B  22.7-17A  22.7-17B  22.7-18A  22.7-18B

22.7-21A  22.7-21B  22.7-22A  22.7-22B  22.7-23A  22.7-23B  22.7-24A  22.7-24B  22.7-25A  22.7-25B  22.7-26A  22.7-26B  22.7-27A  22.7-27B  22.7-28A  22.7-28B  

22.7-31A  22.7-31B  22.7-32A  22.7-32B  22.7-33A  22.7-33B  22.7-34A  22.7-34B  22.7-35A  22.7-35B  22.7-36A  22.7-36B  22.7-37A  22.7-37B  22.7-38A  22.7-38B

23.     Exploring Further Afield

Tables:  23.1  23.2-0  23.2-1  23.2-2  23.2-3  23.3  23.4  23.5-0

23.5-1  23.5-2  23.5-3  23.5-4  23.5-5  23.5-6  23.5-7  23.5-8  23.5-9

24.     A Practical Guide to Causative Logic

Tables:  24.1  24.2  24.3  24.4

Note: Phase III of the research resulted in so many and so large tables (some of them hundreds and even thousands of pages long) that it was impossible to include them all in the printed edition. For this reason all are published here, online, for your scrutiny.

Full list of Tables and Diagrams