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In physics, one of the conditions for causality is that there is not only an
order to the events, but that there is no frame of reference from which that
order can be reversed.
In common usage, however, causality does not seem to
strongly require a temporal separation of the cause and resulting effect.
A ball bounces off a wall. What is the "cause" of that bouncing motion? If
the wall was absent, the ball would continue its motion. But the force on
the ball and the acceleration of the ball occur simultaneously. This is
where I have a hard time with the concept of "cause". I must admit that I
have not resolved this comfortably in my own mind. I would appreciate any
comments from the group on this particular example.