Kausalphysikalisch

Kausalphysikalisch is a German term that translates to "causally physical" or "physically causal." It is often used in the context of scientific inquiry, particularly in physics and philosophy of science, to describe phenomena or explanations that adhere to the principles of causality and are grounded in physical laws. The concept emphasizes that events are caused by preceding events according to established physical mechanisms, rather than by chance, arbitrary will, or non-physical influences.

The term suggests a strict determinism where the state of a physical system at one point in time completely determines its state at all future times, given the governing physical laws. This perspective is closely aligned with classical mechanics and the deterministic worldview prevalent before the advent of quantum mechanics. In a causally physical framework, every effect has a discernible physical cause, and understanding these causal chains is key to comprehending the behavior of the universe.

While the classical understanding of causality is deeply ingrained in scientific thought, modern physics, especially quantum mechanics, has introduced complexities. Concepts like quantum indeterminacy and the probabilistic nature of some quantum events challenge a purely deterministic, causally physical interpretation in its strictest sense. Nevertheless, the underlying principle of physical causality remains a foundational assumption in much of scientific investigation, guiding the search for explanations rooted in observable and measurable physical interactions. The phrase "kausalphysikalisch" thus encapsulates a commitment to understanding the world through observable, physically instantiated cause-and-effect relationships.