Causality as Cognitive Illusion A Minimalist Thesis

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) 2026 Preprint Open access

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Authors: Ryuhei ISHIBASHI
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18115496
Cited by: 0

Abstract

This paper argues that causality does not exist in the external world. What exists is patterns of covariation and change. Causality is a cognitive label that human brains attach to predictable patterns of change—a useful illusion shaped by evolutionary pressure, not a feature of reality itself. Science does not discover causes; it discovers predictive regularities.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Embodied and Extended Cognition Philosophy and History of Science Cognitive Science and Education Research

Publication details

Journal / source
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Publication date
1 January 2026
Language
EN
Document type
Preprint