It's not clear to me what the writer was thinking. It might be just a causal attribution as others here are suggesting, or it might have a connotation of appro

It's not clear to me what the writer was thinking. It might be just a causal attribution as others here are suggesting, or it might have a connotation of approval. Anyway, I think you're making an important point that shouldn't be lost. There is a great arrogance in thinking we know how other people should live.