Causal vs Conditional Language

Hi Huntertarry, Conditional language sets up a general rule- something that is saying in effect "If X then Y." Whenever we have a situation that fits the pattern of "if x then y" we have a conditional statement. Causation is simply saying that one thing causes another to happen. Confusingly, we could have a causal statement phrased in such a way that it is also conditional. For example, whenever the temperature falls below freezing, it cases the lake to freeze. This fits the pattern of if x then y, and it is telling us that X causes y. Ultimately I think it is less important to have perfect diagram of every question, than it is to fully understand what you read. If you read something that sets up a scenario where one thing guarantees than another will or will not happen, that is conditional, and if it claims that one thing causes another, it is causal.