B Causation: substance or event?

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The discussion centers on the distinction between "substance causation" and "event causation" in the context of a car hitting a pedestrian. It questions whether the car itself or the transfer of kinetic energy is responsible for the pedestrian's death. A forensic pathologist is suggested as a more appropriate authority for determining the cause of death, emphasizing the role of energy transfer and bodily stress in fatal injuries. The conversation also touches on the philosophical implications of causation, though it notes that discussing philosophy may violate forum rules. Ultimately, the thread concludes with a reminder that the topic is complex and may not be suitable for further exploration in this context.
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If a car runs into a pedestrian, does the car kill them, or the kinetic energy?
A philosopher makes a distinction between "substance causation" and "event causation." If a speeding car (substance) hits a pedestrian, does the collision with the car (touching it while it's moving fast) kill the person, or does the transfer of kinetic energy or something - what, exactly, causes them to die, and how?
 
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sayetsu said:
TL;DR Summary: If a car runs into a pedestrian, does the car kill them, or the kinetic energy?

A philosopher makes a distinction between "substance causation" and "event causation." If a speeding car (substance) hits a pedestrian, does the collision with the car (touching it while it's moving fast) kill the person, or does the transfer of kinetic energy or something - what, exactly, causes them to die, and how?
Assuming the person does die - which is by no means certain - you'd be better off asking a forensic pathologist than a philosopher to ascertain the cause of death.
 
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I would say that the transfer of energy and momentum to some parts of the pedestrian's body and not others leads to stresses inside the body which are too great for the elasticity of some part(s) of the body and they break. That breakage may be fatal.

I don't think trying to fit this into what sounds like a knock-off of Aristotle's four causes is a good idea, not least because discussing philosophy is against forum rules.
 
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sayetsu said:
TL;DR Summary: If a car runs into a pedestrian, does the car kill them, or the kinetic energy?

A philosopher makes a distinction between "substance causation" and "event causation." If a speeding car (substance) hits a pedestrian, does the collision with the car (touching it while it's moving fast) kill the person, or does the transfer of kinetic energy or something - what, exactly, causes them to die, and how?

As a poor layman of philosophy, I should appreciate it if you could provide simple definition or show weblinks to get idea of event causation and substance causation to understand your discussion better. I found another word agent causation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_causation. Is it also involved in ?
 
Philosophy is out of bounds here. Thread closed.
 
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