Describing an event, phenomenon, or state of affairs that originates independently of any external agency or pre-existing condition. This implies that the subject is self-generating or the ultimate source of its own existence or occurrence. It signifies a lack of direct or indirect causal relationship with anything outside of itself, emphasizing the concept of self-origination or absolute spontaneity. This differs from events that are triggered or influenced by external forces. The implication is that something uncaused-by-another is primary, fundamental, or arises from within its own nature or essence, not due to an external agent. The term highlights the absence of any external initiating cause.
Uncaused-by-another meaning with examples
- The emergence of the universe from the singularity is, arguably, a situation uncaused-by-another. Scientists theorize about inflation, but its starting point seems to defy explanation through existing physical laws. Its initial state, therefore, is a potential example. This intrinsic origin points towards the absence of an external cause, positioning the universe itself as the primordial source of its expansion.
- A deity in some theological systems is often proposed as an uncaused-by-another entity, the initial and fundamental cause of all things that exist. Its very being is not dependent on any prior cause, placing it beyond the scope of a causal chain. The concept supports the idea of a self-existent, self-determining entity which functions as the ultimate foundation of the cosmos and all related realities.
- Some philosophical arguments propose consciousness, or certain aspects of free will, as events that might be uncaused-by-another. A conscious decision, for instance, may seem to arise from an internal process that is not fully explained by physical causes. The idea challenges deterministic views, suggesting an autonomous aspect of agency that is not dependent on prior events for the choice's origination.
- In certain branches of physics, the collapse of the wave function in quantum mechanics, where a particle's superposition resolves into a defined state, is sometimes understood as uncaused-by-another. This raises questions about the nature of observation. The particle's sudden change appears to be independent of any external influence acting upon it in that specific context.