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The farther you get from the proximate medical cause, the more supposition and speculation is involved.

True, but his point about missing information that could lead to the root cause is very valid. In some cases addressing the root cause is the only way to really prevent death.

The root cause of death is life.

The root cause of everything is the laws of physics and, to the extent it is a separate issue, the initial state of the universe.

Or, from a different epistemological viewpoint, the root cause of everything is God’s will.

Ascribing importance to intermediate causes is highly subjective, even assuming they can be reliably determined.

> The root cause of everything is the laws of physics and, to the extent it is a separate issue, the initial state of the universe.

Only if you think that the laws of physics are deterministic, I guess.

assumes there is a singular root cause. "he died lonely of a broken heart?" but why was he lonely? "he died because in his entire life he failed to develop relationships with people" or "he died of loneliness because he was a terrible human being" etc.

and "he died of being homeless"? why was he homeless? because society was so cruel and uncaring? sure, he had nothing to do with it himself.

the other comment is right, this path inevitably leads to judgment and speculation.

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