The word "cause" is problematic. Months ago I read a short biography of Newton which gives a fascinating view of his intellectual development. He was a precious child, as many like him are, and from an earlt age he was fascinated with patterns. He tried to make sense of them. As he grew older he acquired the mathematcal tools to do so. I think that in this digital world we have forgotten that Newton's world was geometric. In our world the billard ball model seems to prevail. Do we forget the debate in the world ofmathmatics about the nature of that knowledge, since without there is no modern science? What is the significance of pattern? Is it real or is it an illusion? We can kick rocks all day and not answer that question.
I think you have it slightly backwards. Billiard ball determinism is pre 20th century. Physics doesn't think like that any more.