Along
with asatkaryavada and anekantavada, satkaryavada is one of the three causal
models in Indian philosophy.
All three theories attempt to explain the link between
causes and consequences in daily life, which has significant religious
implications.
All philosophical traditions believe that gaining ultimate
soul liberation is possible if one properly understands the causal process and
can manage it via conscious acts (moksha).
As a result, differences over alternative causal models are
more than just academic debates; they are based on fundamentally divergent
assumptions about the nature of things.
According to the satkaryavada paradigm, effects preexist in
their causes, and so may be seen as transformations (actual or apparent) of
those causes.
The transition of milk into curds, butter, and clarified
butter is a famous example.
Each of these consequences was already there in the cause,
according to proponents of satkaryavada, and arises from it via a natural
transformation of that cause.
Because everything may be regarded as a transformation of
other things, this causal model tends to minimize the number of causes in the
universe.
Given these strong links, they may be used to one's benefit
provided one understands how they function.
This model's disadvantage is that it might lead to fatalism.
It might seem as if the universe is operating on its own
power in a world where everything happens by natural transformation, and that
human activities may not be able to impact such powerful connections.
The Samkhyas, proponents of Bhedabhada, Ramanuja's
Vishishthadvaita Vedanta, and different branches of Advaita Vedanta are among
the philosophical systems that support this concept.
The first three believe that the difference between cause
and effect is a genuine transformation of the cause, whereas the Advaita school
believes that this transformation is only apparent, and that the true source of
bondage (and liberation) is avidya, a fundamental lack of understanding that
leads to a misunderstanding of the nature of things.
Pre suppositions of India's Philosophies, edited by Karl H. Potter,
was published in 1972.
