Etymology of Cause and Its Role in Demonstration

Logic is a science that studies the methodology of thinking (reasoning). Thinking can be defined as the process through which one can move in an orderly way from previously established knowledge (the known) to new knowledge or to what is commonly called the unknown (conclusion). Previously established knowledge and the way it is organized and arranged [in the mind] is the perfect cause in relation to what can be properly called the induction of a conclusion in the process of thinking. That is why all the principles and rules governing cause and effect can also be applied to "previously established knowledge" as cause and to subsequent new knowledge as effect (conclusion and definiens). Such a view of previously established knowledge and conclusion can result in certain subtle points in the science of logic. Other issues and divisions in logic and their relevant rules and principles are based on the view mentioned above. Demonstration, as a logical category, is among the topics whose content explanation has a direct relation to knowing what causes a judgment and what are its various types. Lack of a careful study of the etymology of cause, particularly the cause of a judgment and making no distinction between logical and philosophical attitudes and aspects when discussing about demonstration have led to ambiguity in some propositions, giving rise to certain unscientific accounts. In this article, the author tries to deal with the etymology of cause, the distinction between logical and philosophical approaches to it and their implications and consequences, types of causes of a judgment and conditions of a cause for forming a demonstration. The explanation and assessment of Khawja's opinion concerning the application of four causes in a priori demonstration constitute the main discussion in this article.