[FRIAM] PM-2017-MethodologicalBehaviorismCausalChainsandCausalForks(1).pdf

[Frank Wimberly]

"Screening off" is an informal term of art in causal reasoning.  If A,B,
and C are random variables, the Causal Markov Condition asserts that if A
causes B and B causes C then knowing the value of A provides no information
about the probability density of C over knowing the value of B.

It is also said that B screens off the causal effect of A on C.

I hope that helps,

Frank

---
Frank C. Wimberly
140 Calle Ojo Feliz,
Santa Fe, NM 87505

505 670-9918
Santa Fe, NM

On Wed, Feb 10, 2021, 10:07 AM <thompnickson2 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi, All,
>
>
>
> If any of you had any spare brain time, I am interested in  the attached VERY
> SHORT
> <https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:a6e9c10b-06dc-4ea1-8ffa-d450df62489a>
> article:
>
>
>
> I am struggling here with the idea of "screening off".  Does it mean more
> or less than the following:  Granted that, If I had ham, and I had eggs, I
> would have ham and eggs, having eggs screens off having ham from having ham
> and eggs?   Screening off seems a very odd metaphor.  Is it a term of art
> in logic?
>
>
>
> Also, a general problem I have with causality:  My understanding of
> causality is that event A can cause event B  if and only if A is
> independently known from B (an event cannot cause itself) AND occurs prior
> to B  Now imagine  two perfectly meshed gears, such that motion in one is
> instantly conveyed to the other.  I turn gear A and gear B turns.  Has the
> motion in A *caused* the turning of B or has my turning of A caused the
> motion of B?  With the gears, this may just seem like a fussy “in the
> limit” sort of question, but there seem to be other phenomena where it’s
> worth asking.  Does the discharge of potential along the ionized (?) path
> CAUSE the lightning?
>
>
>
> I realize that the rest of you have spouses, dogs, cats, hobbies, and day
> jobs, but any off hand thoughts you have on these matters would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
>
>
> Nick
>
>
>
> You can view
> "PM-2017-MethodologicalBehaviorismCausalChainsandCausalForks(1).pdf" at:
>
>
> https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:a6e9c10b-06dc-4ea1-8ffa-d450df62489a
>
>
>
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