Final answer:
Statements about future causes inherently contain modality, as they reflect expectations based on causal relationships that might hold in the future. Causality and determinism deeply influence our understanding of past, present, and future, making modality an inseparable aspect of statements about time-bound events.
Step-by-step explanation:
When making statements about causes in the future, such as “Cold causes frost to form on the window,” one is indeed engaging with modality, which refers to the expression of possibility, necessity, and contingency regarding a situation. Although modal auxiliary verbs like “can,” “will,” or “must” are not used explicitly, the nature of the statement carries an inherent modal quality because it reflects an understanding of causal relationships that are expected to hold in the future based on past and present observations.
Causality and the notion of determinism suggest that future events are bound by natural laws and the cause-and-effect relationships established throughout the past and present. The philosophical debate around hard determinism, as put forth by Baron D'Holbach, acknowledges that humans are subject to the causal closure of the natural world, making modality a necessary aspect of future statements. When considering the past, the use of modality reflects our understanding that past experiences shape future possibilities, implying a degree of determinacy.
Furthermore, modality cannot be entirely avoided in statements about past, present, or future events due to the inherent uncertainties and complexities of life. The use of modality allows for the expression of different degrees of certainty and possibility, which is a fundamental aspect of human language and cognition when discussing time-bound experiences and actions.