3 ms·

>the environment is not the cause of the poor outcomes It's not the proximate cause, but that doesn't mean it is in no way causative. >and pointing out the ca

• naasking 3y ago
  Yes, it's causative in the same sense that the formation of our solar system eventually caused me to write this reply. And I agree that it's typically most efficient to address root causes, but there's a sleight of hand going on here. Note how your post correctly pointed out that environment influences a person's actions where I said poor impulse control causes poor outcomes. There are causal factors in both cases, but clearly there is a clear and direct causal link in the latter and a diffuse set of uncertain possible causes in the former. I would not call environment a root cause in this case unless you can actually narrow down the specific source that causes poor impulse control (some of it is genetic and thus ineliminable).
  • thfuran 3y ago
    >it's causative in the same sense that the formation of our solar system eventually caused me to write this reply. More like in the sense that smoking causes cancer.