The essentialists insisted that a cause be necessary and sufficient for an effect to occur. In a modern study, alcohol dependency is found to lead eventually to permanent liver damage, except when the person with alcoholism consumes a diet plentiful in the B- vitamins. In addition, liver damage can emerge in the absence of alcohol dependency. What would the essentialists say about the causative relationship between alcohol dependency and liver damage?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The essentialists would argue that alcohol dependency is neither necessary nor sufficient for liver damage because liver damage can occur without alcohol dependency and alcohol dependency does not always lead to liver damage if the person consumes a diet rich in B-vitamins.

The Essentialists Insisted That a Cause Be Necessary and Sufficient