Causation Quote by Steven Pinker
““It looks as if the offspring have eyes so that they can see well (bad, teleological, backward causation), but that's an illusion. The offspring have eyes because their parents' eyes did see well (good, ordinary, forward causation).””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Blank Slate, Steven Pinker, 2002
Our perception of causality is often misattributed; we tend to see outcomes as caused by distant ancestors rather than immediate mechanisms.
In simple terms: We mistake deep causes for superficial ones.
Key Takeaway
Recognize immediate causes over assumed teleology.
Themes
cognition
causality
perception
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
scientific
When to use this quote
- education
- scientific research
- parenting
- policy analysis
Key Concepts
evolutionary psychology
teleology
causal inference
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate immediate from distant causes?
- What assumptions shape your causal explanations?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on distant causes can ignore actionable factors.
