Legal causation and responsibility for causing harm.
In the legal setting, "cause" is composed of at least two distinct components, of which only one is related to "causality" as scientists understand it. I argue that the alleged separation of the social issue of "scope of responsibility" from the objective question of scientific causality is illusory. "Scientific causality" also plays an essential social role in the legal setting.
Ozonoff
David
D
Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA. dozonoff@bu.edu
D015984:Causality; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D011634:Public Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011640:Public Policy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012586:Science / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000379:methods; D012941:Social Responsibility; D014481:United States