Proximate Cause

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A Proximate Cause is a cause that is near an outcome.



References

2014

  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proximate_and_ultimate_causation
    • A proximate cause is an event which is closest to, or immediately responsible for causing, some observed result. This exists in contrast to a higher-level ultimate cause (or distal cause) which is usually thought of as the "real" reason something occurred.

      Example: Why did the ship sink?

      • Proximate cause: Because it was holed beneath the waterline, water entered the hull and the ship became denser than the water which supported it, so it could not stay afloat.
      • Ultimate cause: Because the ship hit a rock which tore open the hole in the ship's hull.
    • In most situations, an ultimate cause may itself be a proximate cause for a further ultimate cause. Hence we can continue the above example as follows:

      Example: Why did the ship hit the rock?

      • Proximate cause: Because the ship failed to change course to avoid it.
      • Ultimate cause: Because the ship was under autopilot and the autopilot's data were inaccurate.