experiment setup -> gas dynamics -> observed measurements
You would instantiate it like so:
(setup apparatus such that P=1 psi T = 289 n=5 mol R=12.2) -> (solve PV=nRT for V, V = ...) -> (V = ..., other values same as in setup)
But as I said, it's all discussed in Judea's book. Particularly, there is the epilogue, a reprint of this lecture: http://singapore.cs.ucla.edu/LECTURE/
Slide 26 is where he brings up Russell's critique of causality.
And this quote from slide 47 is Pearl's response:
"Let us examine now how the surgery interpretation resolves Russell's enigma: concerning the clash between the directionality of causal relations and the symmetry of physical equations. The equations of physics are indeed symmetrical, but when we compare the phrases "A CAUSES B" vs. "B CAUSES A" we are not talking about a single set of equations. Rather, we are comparing two world models, represented by two different sets of equations; one in which the equation for A is surgically removed, the other where the equation for B is removed. Russell would probably stop us at this point and ask: "How can you talk about TWO world models, when in fact there is only one world model, given by all the equations of physics put together?" The answer is: YES. If you wish to include the entire universe in the model, causality disappears because interventions disappear - the manipulator and the manipulated loose their distinction. However, scientists rarely consider the entirety of the universe as an object of investigation. In most cases the scientist carves a piece from the universe and proclaims that piece: IN namely, the FOCUS of investigation. The rest of the universe is then considered OUT or BACKGROUND, and is summarized by what we call BOUNDARY CONDITIONS. This choice of INs and OUTs creates asymmetry in the way we look at things, and it is this asymmetry that permits us to talk about "outside intervention", hence, causality and cause-effect directionality. "
Thanks, let me first say this all seems to be in support of my point that causality is not some obvious basic concept like it is usually treated. Apparently I need to understand and accept other technical concepts such as "world model" and "surgery" before understanding "causal".
Second, it sounds like Pearl is in agreement that cause and effect do not appear to be physical aspects of the universe (ie something to be independently measured), but are rather wholly dependent on the person/device performing the measurements. By dependent I don't mean in the sense that pressing a ruler up a against an object slightly changes its length, or the uncertainty principle, etc. I mean that the perspective of the observer looks like it is central to Pearl's conception of causality. If this is the case, it should be possible to do science without any use of the cause/effect idea at all. However, perhaps it is a useful heuristic in many cases.
Third, I am always wary about arguments regarding "scientists do x". Many people are passing themselves off as scientists these days who are not actually doing science according to the usual definitions. For an example, just look at the dearth of even attempted replications or proposed theories making precise predictions in fields like health and social science. Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of what gets claimed in those areas seems to be wrong when it is checked. The widespread misinterpretation of and games surrounding p-values occurring in these fields of research goes without mention... My point here is just because some people claiming to be scientists behave a certain way doesn't mean that is the most (or even a) productive way to act.
I think Pearl's arguments are primarily about science and humans, not about "scientists" as such. As a human, there is a very clear boundary distinction between the "in" and the "out". Furthermore, there seems be a strong tendency in human thinking to classify the world into objects and their causes or effects. So, for example, there's an acausal theory of physics but then the surrounding explanations are all narrative-based heuristics. And those narratives seem to be easier to process and manipulate, for humans.
Also as Pearl also mentioned, this really only became a point of interest when computer science and artificial intelligence got going, because there non-narrative models seem to be successful as well, like neural networks, finite element methods, and so on.
A similar perspective applies to p-hacking; it's not so much that people deviate from the "one true way" of doing statistics, as that there are a hundred conflicting myths of what statistics should be and often they pick the one that is most convenient, rather than searching through to find the most applicable.
The model would be something like:
experiment setup -> gas dynamics -> observed measurements
You would instantiate it like so:
(setup apparatus such that P=1 psi T = 289 n=5 mol R=12.2) -> (solve PV=nRT for V, V = ...) -> (V = ..., other values same as in setup)
But as I said, it's all discussed in Judea's book. Particularly, there is the epilogue, a reprint of this lecture: http://singapore.cs.ucla.edu/LECTURE/
Slide 26 is where he brings up Russell's critique of causality.
And this quote from slide 47 is Pearl's response: "Let us examine now how the surgery interpretation resolves Russell's enigma: concerning the clash between the directionality of causal relations and the symmetry of physical equations. The equations of physics are indeed symmetrical, but when we compare the phrases "A CAUSES B" vs. "B CAUSES A" we are not talking about a single set of equations. Rather, we are comparing two world models, represented by two different sets of equations; one in which the equation for A is surgically removed, the other where the equation for B is removed. Russell would probably stop us at this point and ask: "How can you talk about TWO world models, when in fact there is only one world model, given by all the equations of physics put together?" The answer is: YES. If you wish to include the entire universe in the model, causality disappears because interventions disappear - the manipulator and the manipulated loose their distinction. However, scientists rarely consider the entirety of the universe as an object of investigation. In most cases the scientist carves a piece from the universe and proclaims that piece: IN namely, the FOCUS of investigation. The rest of the universe is then considered OUT or BACKGROUND, and is summarized by what we call BOUNDARY CONDITIONS. This choice of INs and OUTs creates asymmetry in the way we look at things, and it is this asymmetry that permits us to talk about "outside intervention", hence, causality and cause-effect directionality. "
And if you can't read, then here he is presenting it in a recent lecture: https://youtu.be/9YMHqO6Z7AI?t=1731