Exactly, correlation does "point to" causality. The question is what "establishes" it.
Also, agreed, use of controlled experiments is probably the best we can do to validate the hypothesis, and then assume its correctness beyond doubt till counter examples show up, if at all.
Correlation does not need to be 100% though. We live in the world of quantum mechanics today where you can successfully predict the probability distribution, but not beyond (at least as yet).
Also, agreed, use of controlled experiments is probably the best we can do to validate the hypothesis, and then assume its correctness beyond doubt till counter examples show up, if at all.
Correlation does not need to be 100% though. We live in the world of quantum mechanics today where you can successfully predict the probability distribution, but not beyond (at least as yet).