Bald Eagle,

I don't see "cause=true". True would seem to imply some deeper meaning. A cause is. An effect is. There is a sequential link between them the two that is causation. You seem to be arguing that "true" is a physical property, like density. And if cause is true, in the sense you mean, then effect (thoughts) would also be true. Chaos Theory, at least in my limited understanding, presupposes the causal relationship. Where it gets away from the traditional reductionist school is in arguing (and demonstrating both mathematically and practically) that even if the causes are known, the effect isn't always predictable. Even the pattern of the unpredictability isn't always predictable. Its like the quantum idea that you can know either the exact position or exact momentum of a particle/wave, but never both. The chain of causation, if you will, still exists. As an example, chaos theory can predict the volume output of water coming out of a garden house. The reductionist argued that more volume and pressure on one end was directly related to the volume of output on the other, up to the point where the hose burst. Experimentally, that didn't happen. After a certain input of pressure and volume, the output began to vary, erratically, or unpredictably, if you will. Traditional Newtonian physics cannot explain why the relationship isn't linear.

The alternative is that there are both caused and uncaused events, effects or what ever. That would seem to be based on the same level of Truth as the drunks pink elephants, a totally subjective reality. Unless there is some criteria that can be agreed on as to what constitutes caused versus uncaused, you get back to reality as a socially agreed on thing, with some underlying, undiscovered factor that determines when cause works.

Predictability is, IMO, the big myth linked to causation. It feels safer, logical and all that. (As well as being boring, irrational and no fun at all). I just don't view predictability as been a requirement of causation. And if the relationship to cause and effect is non-linear, then free will, intent and all the rest seems possible.

Regards

John