Privative causality

Abstract

For want of a nail, the shoe was lost: For want of the shoe, the horse was lost; For want of the horse, the rider was lost; For want of the rider, the battle was lost; For want of the battle, the kingdom was lost, And all for the want of a horseshoe nail. (Anon. Medieval Rhyme) Among the kinds of explanation given for the occurrence or non-occurrence of events and processes, the obtaining or non-obtaining of states and conditions, and the existence or non-existence of substances and characteristics, are ones that refer to absences, deficiencies and wants of provision: The smoke alarm failed to go off because there was no battery in it. The engine didn't start because there was no gas in the combustion chamber. The circuit didn't operate because the last connection was missing. The plant died because it didn't get any water. The dog remained asleep because the clock didn't chime. The man stumbled because he was unsighted. The victim died because of a lack of air. The astronaut was sick because of the absence of gravity.

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