When local causes are more explanatorily useful.

Area of Science:

• Human genetics
• Causal inference
• Complex traits

Background:

• Understanding complex human traits requires integrating causal knowledge.
• Traditionally, generalizable causes are prioritized over local, shallow causes.
• This prioritization may lead to an incomplete understanding of trait determinants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To challenge the conventional view on the utility of causal knowledge depth.
• To illustrate the potential importance of local causes in understanding complex traits.
• To advocate for a more nuanced integration of causal information.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis using a simple illustrative example.
• Comparison of the utility of shallow versus deep causal knowledge.
• Exploration of causal inference in the context of human traits.

Main Results:

• Demonstration that local causes can be more informative than generalizable causes in specific contexts.
• Highlighting the limitations of solely focusing on generalizable causal explanations.
• Providing a counterexample to the classical assumption of shallow cause underestimation.

Conclusions:

• Local causal knowledge, despite being shallow, can be critical for a comprehensive understanding of complex human traits.
• A re-evaluation of the relative importance of different causal depths is warranted.
• Integrating diverse causal knowledge enhances the study of human variation.