cause of ideas

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cause of ideas" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the origins or reasons behind certain thoughts or concepts. Example: "The philosopher explored the cause of ideas, examining how they are formed and influenced by external factors."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This divine mind cannot be itself an idea because it must be conceived as an active principle that can be the cause of ideas, a principle of which we can have no idea but only a "notion" (Treatise, I, 26, 27).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Reid argues that this position is inconsistent with Hume's claim that impressions are the efficient causes of ideas.

SEP

This was believed to hamper innovation and cause repetition of ideas.

BMJ Open

He did not claim that the mind is the cause of the ideas that it contains but rather that the existence of objects in the external world is dependent upon the mental state of the perceiver.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Berkeley took this point to show that no non-mental cause of an idea could resemble it, whether the relevant idea were an idea of a shape or a color.

SEP

This led him to consider, for example, the final cause of our idea of God, which in turn led him to consider our innate knowledge of good and evil.

SEP

Ideas are the Easy Part: 10 Concrete Steps to Eliminating Fear as an Obstacle to Successful Innovation Daily Innovators have a career stake in beating back fear and feeding optimism, both for their own sake, and as a means of enlisting colleagues in the cause of an idea.

Huffington Post

However, ideas of secondary qualities do not resemble any property in the object; they are instead a product of the power that the object has to cause certain kinds of ideas in the mind of the perceiver.

Encyclopedia Britannica

On the representational model, external objects are the causes of our ideas.

SEP

In fact, as noted earlier, it is La Forge who has been suggested to have first employed the expression "occasional cause" in his Traité de l'esprit de l'homme (Carraud 2002, 347), where he argues that bodies are merely the "remote and occasional" causes of our ideas of them (TEH 132 4).

SEP

The action was a protest against the Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA, and the Protect I.P. Act; Nicholas Thompson explained this morning why both are very bad ideas — masses of restraint that, in the name of protecting intellectual property, would cause an entire marketplace of ideas to seize up and then fall apart.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the philosophical origins of concepts, use "cause of ideas" to delve into the fundamental reasons and influences shaping thought. This is particularly apt in academic writing and theoretical discussions.

Common error

Avoid using "cause of ideas" in casual conversation or informal writing. The phrase is more suited to philosophical and academic discussions; in other contexts, simpler alternatives like "origin of ideas" or "source of ideas" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cause of ideas" functions as a noun phrase that refers to the origins, reasons, or influences behind the formation of concepts and thoughts. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and used to explore the foundation of ideas.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

33%

News & Media

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cause of ideas" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that serves to explore the origins and influences behind the formation of thoughts and concepts. Predominantly found in academic, philosophical, and scientific contexts, as highlighted by Ludwig, it requires a formal tone and is not typically suited for casual conversation. While alternatives such as "origin of ideas" or "source of ideas" offer simpler expressions, "cause of ideas" delves into the deeper reasons shaping our thinking. Ludwig confirms its validity, emphasizing its role in analytical and theoretical discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

origin of ideas

This alternative directly replaces "cause" with "origin", focusing on the starting point or source of ideas.

source of ideas

Similar to "origin", "source" emphasizes where ideas come from, whether a person, text, or experience.

reason for ideas

This alternative focuses on the justification or rationale behind the formation of ideas.

genesis of ideas

"Genesis" suggests the creation or birth of ideas, implying a more profound or complex development.

roots of ideas

"Roots" evokes the foundational elements or influences that underpin the development of ideas.

impetus for ideas

"Impetus" refers to the driving force or initial motivation that sparks the creation of ideas.

inspiration for ideas

"Inspiration" highlights the creative or motivational spark that leads to the formation of ideas.

determinants of ideas

"Determinants" refers to the factors that definitively shape or influence the nature of ideas.

antecedents of ideas

"Antecedents" focuses on the preceding events, conditions, or causes that lead to the development of ideas.

underlying principles of ideas

This phrase emphasizes the fundamental concepts or beliefs that give rise to certain ideas.

FAQs

How can I use "cause of ideas" in a sentence?

You can use "cause of ideas" to discuss the origins or reasons behind certain thoughts or concepts. For example, "The philosopher explored the cause of ideas, examining how they are formed and influenced by external factors."

What can I say instead of "cause of ideas"?

You can use alternatives like "origin of ideas", "source of ideas", or "reason for ideas" depending on the context.

Is "cause of ideas" formal or informal?

The phrase "cause of ideas" is generally considered formal and is best suited for academic, philosophical, or otherwise serious discussions.

What's the difference between "cause of ideas" and "origin of ideas"?

While similar, "cause of ideas" implies a deeper exploration into the reasons and influences shaping thoughts, whereas "origin of ideas" simply refers to the starting point or source.