: A proximate cause is the immediate trigger—for example, a match lighting a fire. The ultimate cause is the deeper reason—why the oxygen, fuel, and heat were all in that place at that time.
Every action is the result of a complex web of preceding events. Scientists and philosophers often look at causes through different lenses to understand this complexity: causes
: Reflecting on the causes of our own behaviors helps us make better choices in the future. Common "Signal Words" for Cause and Effect : A proximate cause is the immediate trigger—for
Humans are biologically wired to look for patterns and causes. This drive is at the heart of our most important disciplines: causes