--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: However inadequate our ideas of causal…" description: "\"“However inadequate our ideas of causal efficacy may be, we are less wide of the mark when we say that our ideas and feelings have it, than the Automat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/william-james-228_born_however-inadequate-our-ideas-of-causal-e_1922706.jpg" --- # However inadequate our ideas of causal efficacy may be, we… ![“However inadequate our ideas of causal efficacy may be, we are less wide of the mark when we say that our ideas and feelings have it, than the Automatists are when they say they haven’t it. As in the night all cats are gray, so in the darkness of metaphysical criticism all causes are obscure. But…” quote by William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/william-james-228_born_however-inadequate-our-ideas-of-causal-e_1922706.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/william-james-228_born_however-inadequate-our-ideas-of-causal-e_1922706.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f1/william-james-228_born_however-inadequate-our-ideas-of-causal-e_1922706.jpg) > ““However inadequate our ideas of causal efficacy may be, we are less wide of the mark when we say that our ideas and feelings have it, than the Automatists are when they say they haven’t it. As in the night all cats are gray, so in the darkness of metaphysical criticism all causes are obscure. But one has no right to pull the pall over the psychic half of the subject only . . . whilst in the same breath one dogmatizes about material causation as if Hume, Kant, and Lotze had never been born.”” [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. James argues that while our mental concepts of cause are imperfect, they are still more accurate than the strict denial of any causal power by radical materialists. **In simple terms:** Mental causation is more plausible than denying it entirely. Key Takeaway Recognize mental influence despite its mystery. Themes philosophy psychology causality Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy - personal decision‑making - creative work - scientific research Key Concepts mind‑body problem epistemology metaphysics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance skepticism with belief in mental influence? - What evidence supports mental causation? A Different Perspective Denial of mental causation can overlook genuine psychological effects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaths/) [Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) [Causation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causation/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Efficacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efficacy/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Metaphysical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphysical/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Psychics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychics/) ## Related quotes > [Science must constantly be reminded that her purposes are not the only purposes and that the order of uniform causation which she has use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/science-must-constantly-be-reminded-that-her-purposes-are-not-the/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [To plead the organic causation of a religious state of mind, then, in refutation of its claim to possess superior spiritual value, is quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/to-plead-the-organic-causation-of-a-religious-state-of-mind-then-in/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [“In the history of philosophy, the term “rationalism” has two distinct meanings. 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