Single Idea 4553

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 8. Particular Causation / a. Observation of causation]

Full Idea

The popular belief in cause and effect is founded on the presupposition that free will is the cause of every effect: it is only from this that we derive the feeling of causality.

Gist of Idea

We derive the popular belief in cause and effect from our belief that our free will causes things

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (The Will to Power (notebooks) [1888], §667)

Book Reference

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'The Will to Power', ed/tr. Kaufmann,W /Hollingdate,R [Vintage 1968], p.352


A Reaction

It may be that our first experiences of causation involve the wil, though I don't see why babies shouldn't also observe. Nietzsche is muddling the epistemology with the ontology.