Probabilistic Causation

Probabilistic causation refers to the idea that causes increase the likelihood of certain effects happening, rather than guaranteeing them. In science, this means that when we say one event causes another, we're often indicating that the first event makes the second event more probable, without ensuring it will occur every time. For example, smoking increases the probability of lung cancer, but not everyone who smokes gets it. This concept helps researchers understand complex systems where multiple factors influence outcomes, acknowledging that causation isn't always absolute but often involves degrees of influence.