Causation: substance or event?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the distinction between "substance causation" and "event causation" in the context of a hypothetical scenario where a speeding car collides with a pedestrian. Participants explore what exactly causes the death of the pedestrian in such an event, questioning whether it is the car itself or the transfer of kinetic energy that leads to fatality.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that the transfer of energy and momentum to specific parts of the pedestrian's body results in stresses that can cause fatal injuries.
  • Others argue that the distinction between substance and event causation is relevant to understanding the cause of death, although this may not align with the forum's focus.
  • A participant questions the relevance of philosophical terminology, seeking simpler definitions and connections to related concepts like agent causation.
  • One participant expresses skepticism about the philosophical framing of the issue, suggesting it may not be appropriate for the forum.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the nature of causation in this scenario, and there are competing views regarding the appropriateness of philosophical discussion within the forum context.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the assumptions underlying the discussion, particularly regarding the certainty of the pedestrian's death and the applicability of philosophical concepts to the scenario.

sayetsu
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TL;DR
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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