Causal Reductionism

When "the reason" is not the reason.

Our world is complex, and so are the reasons behind what we observe. Take a seemingly simple question: Why does an apple fall from a tree? You might say "gravity" and be technically right. But the full story includes the apple's mass, the stem's health, and even the weather conditions.

We love simple answers. They're fast, easy to remember, and easy to share. But things are more complex when it comes to politics, media, or business. Often, they boil down issues to one cause, which isn't usually the full story.

The success of a strategy, the effectiveness of public policies, or an employee's performance — often we link these things to “the” (one) reason. But in reality, there are almost always many reasons at play.

Personal choices, the environment, and others' reactions all contribute to a rapidly expanding web of influences.

To test for causal reductionism, ask the following two questions:

1. Is there a scenario in which “the reason” wouldn’t lead to this outcome?

2. Is there a scenario where this outcome could be a reality even if “the reason” isn’t there?

If the answer is yes to either of these, you have a case of causal reductionism.

Spotting this can save you from misleading conclusions and premature decisions.

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