Proximate and Ultimate Causation - in Ordinary Affairs

In Ordinary Affairs

In ordinary affairs as well as in science, engineering, and other fields, all of the characteristics of an effect will be completely explained by the set of proximate causes. If a postulated (hypothesized) set of proximate causes (also known as "direct factors") does not fully explain all of the characteristics (attributes) of the effect the set of direct factors is either wrong or incomplete.

The set of direct factors (of an effect) has a number of known properties.

Some are the following:

1. The set of direct factors will always include predisposing factors that set the stage for the effect and a precipitating factor that brought the effect into being. (The future recurrence of the effect may be precluded by negating certain predisposing factors and/or by negating the precipitating factor. For example, the detonation of a car bomb could be precluded by removing the bomb or by not turning the ignition key.)

2. The set of direct factors will always include: 1)one or more factors that affected the nature of the effect, 2) one or more factors that affected the magnitude (or intensity) of the effect, 3) one or more factors that affected the location of the effect, and 4) one or more factor(s) that affected the timing of the effect. The first three categories of factors may be considered to be predisposing factors and the fourth may be considered to be precipitating.

3. The set of direct factors will always include: a) one or more set-up factors that establish the vulnerability for the effect, b) one or more factor(s) that triggered the creation of the effect, c) one or more factors that made the effect as large as it was, and d) one or more factors that kept the magnitude from being even greater.

4. The set of direct factors will always include: i) something that can be affected, ii)something that can do the affecting, iii) the proximity of the foregoing, iv) the simultaneity of the first two, and v) the absence of any intervening separation between the first two.