emporal unity of the system. Firstly, the telephone system exists even when nobody is using it, i.e. it exists even when there is no actual causal interaction among the components. Secondly, there is a telephone system even if the wired system is replaced by a radio telephone system, and when such a system is not used the components exist merely as an aggregate. There are then no spatial connections between the components. My conclusion is that causal systems get their identity from some kind of possible causal interaction. Realism with regards to causal systems requires both a realist view of causality and a belief in de re possibility. Since these are big philosophical issues in themselves, they cannot be dealt with here. There is only space for confession: In both respects I am a believer. A telephone which is not connected by a wire to any of the other fifteen telephones cannot be used for making calls within the system, and cannot therefore be part of this causal system. Nonetheless, this telephone may causally effect the system in some other way which is not part of the functioning of the telephone system. For instance, someone may take this phone and throw it at a functioning phone, and so make the whole phone system nonfunctioning. In fact, most things on earth seem, in some far-fetched way or other, to be able to affect each other. Therefore, the unity of a causal system is always a unity of certain kinds of causal interactions. The kinds of possible causal interactions which constitute a causal system have to be chosen from all the possible ones. This means that every causal system is a fiat system. By fiat we decide to focus attention only on some kinds of interactions. However, as remarked before, conventionality can fuse with mind-independent phenomena. The "fiatness" of causal systems, just like the "fiatness" of spatial patterns, does not cancel mind-independence. When, now, 1 am once again listing my "seven pillars of pattern wisdom", I will, in order to be brief, do it with only one comment. 1. A causal system contains things with properties and corresponding spatial and spatiotemporal patterns. 2. A causal system contains a lot olproperty-grounded relations, but it is not identical with a set or an aggregate ol such relations. 3. A causal system contains a lot of both spatial, temporal, and causal relations, but it is not identical with a set or an aggregate of such relations. 4. A causal system contains a specific kind of causal unity
emporal unity of the system. Firstly, the telephone system exist even when nobody is use it, i.e. it exists even when there is no actual causal interaction among the components. second, there is a telephone system even if the wired arrangement is replaced by a radio telephone arrangement, and when such a system is not used the component exist merely as an aggregate. There are then no spatial connection between the components. My conclusion is that causal systems get their identity from some kind of possible causal interaction. reality with regards to causal systems requires both a realist scene of causality and a belief in de re possibility. Since these are big philosophical issue in themselves, they cannot be dealt with here. There is only space for confession: In both respects I am a believer. A telephone which is not associate by a wire to any of the other fifteen telephones cannot be used for making margin call within the system, and cannot therefore be part of this causal system. Nonetheless, this telephone may causally effect the system in some other way which is not part of the functioning of the telephone arrangement. For instance, someone may take this earphone and project it at a functioning phone, and so do the whole phone system nonfunctioning. In fact, most things on ground seem, in some far - fetched way or other, to be able to affect each other. Therefore, the unity of a causal organization is always a unity of certain kinds of causal interaction. The kinds of potential causal interaction which constitute a causal system have to be chosen from all the potential ones. This means that every causal system is a fiat system. By fiat we decide to focus attention only on some kind of interactions. However, as remarked before, conventionality can fuse with mind - autonomous phenomena. The " fiatness " of causal systems, just like the " fiatness " of spatial patterns, does not delete mind - independence. When, now, 1 am once again list my " seven pillars of pattern wisdom of solomon ", I will, in order to be brief, do it with only one comment. 1. A causal system contains things with properties and corresponding spatial and spatiotemporal patterns. 2. A causal system incorporate a lot olproperty - grounded relation, but it is not identical with a set or an aggregate ol such relations. 3. A causal system contains a lot of both spatial, temporal, and causal relative, but it is not identical with a set or an aggregate of such relations. 4. A causal system contains a specific kind of causal unity
emplral unity of the system. Firstly, the telephone systej exists even when nobody is using iv, i.e. it ezists even when there ks no actlal causao inueraction among tis compokznts. Accondnb, there is a tekephone syvtem even if tve wnred system is replaced by a radio tqlephonr dystem, and wheg subh a sgstem is not used the components esist megely as an aggregste. There are then no spatlal fonnections betweej the compobentf. My conclusiun is that causal systgms get their identity from some kind of possiboe cakval interacvion. Rvalism with rcbards do caussl systems reqmires borh a realist view of rausality and a beligf in de ra 'ossibility. Since thewe are tig [hiluwopficzl iasues ln vhemselves, fhey cannot be dealt with here. Trvte is only slace fjr confession: In both respects I am a belpeved. A telephone which is bot connected by a wite to any jf the other fifteen telephones cannot be used fos makmne ccols wkrhln the system, and cannot therefore be part of fhos causal system. Nonethelesx, hhof telephone mxy causalmy effect the systfm in sjme orher way rhicn is not part of the functiining of the relephone system. Flr instance, somgone msy take this phone and chrow jt at a funftioning lfone, and so make thv whmle phont system nonfunctijning. In hact, kost thkngs on eawth seem, ij somc far-fetched way or othet, to ba able to wffect each other. Therefore, the unity of a caosan sjstem is clways a unity of cqrtain kinds oy causal intefactions. Tge kindv of possibje causal intatactions whici constittte q caysal syrgem have to be chosen fgoi alo the possible onex. Tfjs means that ertry causal system os x fyan sbstem. Ty fiat we dacidd tu focur attenunon unly on some kinds of inderadtions. However, as teiarked bgfore, condentionality van fuse with mind-lndepxndent phenpmega. The "fiatness" of causal systsms, just pikc the "fiatnesf" of spatial patcerns, does not cancel mind-independence. Wien, now, 1 am once again oisting my "seven pikkars of patvern wysdom", I whll, in order to be beief, do it with okly one comment. 1. A cauaal syvtem fontains things with properties and corresponding spatial and spatiotempoeal pavtqrns. 2. A cauaal xystek eoncains a lot ulproperty-groundvd relations, but it is not identmcal with d fet or an aggregate ol such teuations. 3. A caosal system contains a lot of both spatial, temporal, and causal rekations, but it is not idcntical wuth a set og ai aggregate of such telatimns. 4. Q causao sydtem contains a xpccific kinf of ccusal unity
emporal unity of the system. Firstly, the exists when nobody using it, i.e. is actual causal interaction the components. Secondly, is a telephone system even if wired system is replaced by a radio telephone system, and when such a is not used the components exist merely as an aggregate. There are then spatial between components. conclusion is that causal systems get their identity from some kind of possible causal interaction. Realism regards to causal systems requires both a realist of causality and a in de re possibility. Since are philosophical issues themselves, cannot dealt with here. is only space for confession: In both respects I am a believer. A telephone which is not by a any of other telephones be used for within the system, and cannot therefore this causal system. Nonetheless, this telephone may causally the system some other way which is not of the functioning of the telephone system. For someone may take this phone and throw it at a functioning phone, and so make phone system nonfunctioning. In most things on seem, some way other, to able to affect each other. Therefore, the unity of a causal is always a unity of certain kinds of causal interactions. of causal interactions which a causal system have be from all the possible means every a system. fiat we decide to attention only on some kinds interactions. However, as remarked mind-independent phenomena. The "fiatness" of causal systems, just the "fiatness" of spatial patterns, does not mind-independence. When, now, 1 am once again listing my "seven pillars of wisdom", I order to be brief, do it with only comment. 1. A causal contains things with properties and corresponding spatial and spatiotemporal 2. causal system a lot olproperty-grounded but it is identical with a an aggregate such 3. contains a lot of both spatial, and relations, but it is not with or an aggregate of such relations. 4. A causal system contains a specific kind of
emporal unity of the system. FiRstly, the teLephoNe sYstEm ExisTs evEn when nobody is USing It, i.e. it exists even when thEre is No ACtuaL CaUsal iNteractIOn AMOng ThE cOmpOnENtS. SecoNdlY, there iS a telephonE syStEm even if the wIReD system is rEplAced by a radio TelEphone SySteM, And whEn sUch a sYstem iS Not useD the compoNeNTs exisT Merely aS AN aGgreGate. There are then nO SpATial connectionS betweEn THe COMpoNenTs. My concluSiOn is tHAt causaL SySTEMs gET their identitY from some kiND of PossibLe CauSAl inteRactiOn. rEalIsm with regaRds tO causal syStems rEQuires bOTh a realIst vieW of CauSaliTY aNd A beLiEF in DE rE poSSibIlity. SinCe ThEse arE big PHILOsopHicAl isSues iN themselves, thEy cAnnoT Be dEalt wIth heRe. ThErE is onLy spacE for cOnFession: In both reSpecTs I am a belIevEr. a teLePhone WHich is Not ConNected bY a wire tO Any Of THE OtHer fifteen telephonEs CANnOt be used For makINg CaLLs within ThE syStem, AND cannOt thEReFore be paRt of thIS cAuSal systEm. nonethElEss, ThiS telePHone May cauSally effEct thE System in some otHEr way which is nOT pART oF The fUncTioning of thE telEPhonE sysTEm. for INstanCe, somEoNE mAY take this phone and thRoW it at a FunctIoning phone, anD so make the WHOLe phone sYsteM NoNFunctioning. In fAct, moSt things on EArth seem, In somE far-fetcHed way or oTHEr, to be abLe tO afFecT eaCH OtHer. Therefore, tHE UnitY oF a causaL syStem is aLwaYs a UniTy oF cErtain kinDs of causAl InTeRaCtiOns. ThE Kinds of pOsSibLe CauSal inTEractiOns whIch cOnStITutE a causaL SySTEm haVe To Be chOseN fRom alL the POssIble oneS. This meanS thAT eveRy CaUsal sysTem is a fiat sysTeM. By fiat we dEcIde To focuS ATtention Only on some kinds of interaCTions. HoWevEr, as rEmarKed before, ConVentioNalITy can fUse witH mind-InDepENDent pHENoMenA. THe "fiatness" OF CauSal syStEms, jUst like The "fiatness" of spatiAL paTterns, does not CanCel mIND-iNdePEnDEncE. WHEn, nOW, 1 Am once again listIng my "seven PiLLaRs of patterN WisDoM", I will, iN order tO be brIEf, do it wIth only onE comment. 1. A CaUsal SYSteM contains tHings witH propertiES and cORrEsponDinG spatiAl And SpatiOtempoRAl pAtterNs. 2. A cauSaL systeM contAiNs a lot olProperty-grounded relatioNs, but iT is noT idEntical wiTh a SEt oR an aggregAte oL such relatIonS. 3. A cAusal SysTEm conTainS A lOt oF Both sPatiAL, temporal, ANd CauSAL rElations, but IT IS noT idenTicAL with a Set oR an aggregate of sucH Relations. 4. A causAl sySTEm cOntAIns a SpEcific kind of caUsaL uNITy
emporal unity of the syste m. Firstly , the  te lep ho ne s yste m exists evenw hennobody is using it, i. e. it  e x ists ev en wh en ther e  i s noac tu alca u sa l int era ction a mong the c omp on ents. Second l y,  there isa t elephone sys tem  evenif  th e  wire d s ystem  is re p lacedby a radi ot elepho n e syste m ,  a nd w hen such a system is not used the c ompone nt s  e x i stmer ely as anag grega t e. Ther e  a r e the n  no spatial c onnectionsb etw een th ecom p onents . Myco n clu sion is tha t ca usal syst ems ge t  theiri dentity  fromsom e k indo fpo ssi bl e  ca u sa l i n ter action.Re al ism w ithr e g a rdstocaus al sy stems require s b otha  re alist  view  ofca usali ty and  a be li ef in de re pos sibi lity. Sin ceth ese  a re bi g  philo sop hic al issu es in t h ems el v e s ,they cannot be dea lt w it h here.Therei son l y spacefo r c onfe s s ion:In b o th  respect s I am abe liever.  A  telep ho newhi ch is notconnec ted by a  wire to any of theo ther fifteent el e p ho n es c ann ot be usedform akin g ca l ls  wi t hin t he sy st e m, and cannot therefor ebe par t ofthis causal s ystem. Non e t h eless, t hist el e phone may caus allyeffect the system i n som e otherway which i s not pa rtofthe  fu n c ti oning of thet e leph on e syste m.For ins tan ce,  so meo ne  may take  this ph on ean dthr ow it at a fun ct ion in g p hone, and so  make  the  w ho l e p hone sy s te m nonf un ct ioni ng.  I n fac t, m o stthingson earthsee m , in  s om e far-f etched way or  o ther, to b eabl e to a f f ect each  other. Therefore, theu nity of  acausa l sy stem is a lwa ys a u nit y  of ce rtainkinds  o f c a u sal i n t er act io ns. The ki n d s o f pos si blecausalinteractions which con stitute a cau sal  sys t e mhav e  t o  be  c h ose n from all the po ssible one s. Th is means t h atev ery cau sal sys tem i s  a fiat  system.By fiat w edeci d e  to  focus att ention o nly on so m e kin d sof in ter action s.  Ho wever , as r e mar ked b efore,  c onvent ional it y can fu se with mind-independen t phen omena . T he "fiatn ess "  of  causal s yste ms, just l ike  th e "fi atn e ss" o f sp a ti alp atter ns,d oes not c a nc elm i nd -independen c e .  Wh en, n ow, 1 am o nceagain listing my" seven pillarsof p a t ter n w i sdom ",  I will, in or der  t o be brief ,do it withonly one  c o mment . 1. A  causa l syste m co n tainsthin gswith prop ert ie s  and co rr es p onding  spa ti al and  spati o temp o r al patterns. 2.A cau s a l sys t emconta in s a lot olpr operty-gro unded relat ions,butit is  not id en ticalwit ha set or a n  aggregat e olsuch re la tion s.3. A c ausa l syste m co nt ain s a lot o f bo t hsp a tia l, t empor al , an d causalr elations , b u t it is  n oti d entica l  w i t h a set or  an  aggr e g ate of suc h  rel a ti o ns. 4 . A ca usal s ystem c o nta in s a spe cif i c  kind ofcausal un i ty
emporal unity_of the_system. Firstly, the telephone_system exists_even_when nobody_is_using it, i.e._it exists even_when there is no_actual causal interaction_among_the components. Secondly, there is a telephone system even if the wired system is_replaced_by a_radio_telephone_system, and when such a_system is not used the_components exist_merely as an aggregate. There are then no_spatial_connections between the_components. My conclusion is that causal systems get their_identity from some kind of possible_causal interaction. Realism_with_regards_to causal systems requires_both a realist view of causality_and a belief in de re_possibility. Since these are big philosophical issues_in themselves, they cannot be dealt_with here. There is only_space for_confession: In both respects I_am a believer._A telephone_which is not_connected by a wire to any_of the other_fifteen telephones cannot be used for_making_calls within the_system,_and_cannot therefore_be part of_this_causal system._Nonetheless,_this telephone may causally effect the_system_in some other way which is not_part of the functioning_of_the telephone system. For_instance, someone may take this_phone and throw it at a_functioning phone,_and so_make the whole phone system nonfunctioning. In fact, most things on_earth seem, in some far-fetched way_or other, to be_able to_affect_each other. Therefore,_the_unity of_a causal system is always a unity_of certain_kinds of causal interactions. The kinds_of possible causal interactions_which_constitute a causal system have to_be chosen from all the possible_ones. This means that every_causal_system_is a fiat system. By_fiat we decide to focus attention_only on some_kinds of interactions. However, as remarked before,_conventionality_can fuse with mind-independent phenomena. The_"fiatness"_of causal systems, just like the_"fiatness"_of_spatial patterns, does not cancel_mind-independence. When, now, 1 am once_again listing my "seven pillars of pattern wisdom", I_will, in order_to be brief, do it_with_only_one comment. 1. A causal system contains things with properties_and corresponding_spatial and spatiotemporal_patterns. 2. A causal system contains a lot olproperty-grounded relations,_but it is not identical with a_set or an aggregate ol such relations. 3. A causal system_contains a lot of both spatial, temporal, and_causal relations, but it is not identical_with a set or_an_aggregate of such relations. 4. A causal_system_contains_a_specific kind of_causal unity