Causation

Abstract

Causation is a central, but elusive, concept in the law of tort. In the tort of negligence, the plaintiff is required to prove that the defendant’s negligence caused her to suffer actionable damage, and there is an equivalent causation requirement for most other torts as well. In the vast majority of cases causation presents no problems. In a small minority, however, the questions raised are ones that have taxed lawyers and philosophers for centuries.