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From: rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu (Russell Hendel)
Date: Thu, 2 Jan 1997 13:18:59 -0500
Subject: What is Causation

Yisrael Rozen, V25#61, writes concerning grama (cause) that

>>I would like to clarify that UNEQUIVOCALLY that a chain of events
which is set off by man is considered his responsibility, as regarding
the laws of Shabbat and the laws of damages.>>

But (a) a person who throws a rock at a palm tree and a palm falls and
kills a baby does NOT go into exile (because he is not perceived as
causing it)(Rambam, Murder, 6:15), while (b) a person who killsa person
by ricoshaying a rock off a wall DOES go into exile from accidental
murder(Rambam,Murder 3:12)

It would therefore seem that causation is complicated and depends on
immediacy, the number of acts involved and the number of objects. Does
anyone have a good explanation/clarification?

Russell Jay Hendel, Ph.d.,ASA, rhendel @ mcs drexel edu