Day 51 of 365: Causes, Results, and Blame

Nagarjuna examines causes and results again, saying:

If cause and result were one,
Then producer and produced would be the same thing.
If cause and result were different,
Then causes and noncauses would be equivalent.


Having gone through several Middle Way arguments at this point, we should all practically be logic ninjas at this point.  This particular reasoning is not really that different from the other arguments in style.  If cause and result were one, then there is really no other option than producer and produced being the same.  Think of the seed and sprout.  If they are the same, then the producer and the produced are literally the same.  If the cause and result are different, then they must be independent, meaning there is no dependency.  If this is the case, then a cause might as well be a noncause.  They would be equally likely to produce the result.

As we move through our day, especially in the work place when things get difficult, fast paced, and messy, we all tend to think about blame.  This argument is a great opportunity to undermine the thought supporting the blame game.  Without causes and results being real, how can there be blame?