causes: material, formal, efficient, final
- causes: material, formal, efficient, final
Four kinds of causation distinguished by
Aristotle . If we think of an example of something that is produced by an agent, such as a statue, then the material cause is the substance or material that constitutes the statue; the formal cause is the pattern or blueprint determining the form of the result; the efficient cause is the agency producing the result; and the final cause is that for the sake of which the result is produced, i.e. the end towards which the production is directed. Whilst the notions may be clear enough in such a case, their wider applicability is much more doubtful. There are clearly events (e.g. a lightning flash) that we think of as caused, yet which are not made of material, not made according to a blueprint, not the result of agency (at least where that is intelligent agency),
and apparently purposeless. Aristotle's generally
teleological approach to nature almost certainly led him to see the categories as more widely applicable than we do.
Philosophy dictionary.
Academic.
2011.
Look at other dictionaries:
formal cause — See causes: material, formal, efficient, final … Philosophy dictionary
Four causes — Part of a series on Aristotelianism … Wikipedia
Aristotle — • Philosopher, born at Stagira, a Grecian colony in the Thracian peninsula Chalcidice, 384 B.C.; died at Chalcis, in Euboea, 322 B.C Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Aristotle Aristotle … Catholic encyclopedia
Aristotelian view of God — The Aristotelian and Neo Aristotelian views of God have been very influential in Western intellectual history.The Metaphysics In his book on first philosophy, which most now call the Metaphysics , Aristotle discussed the meaning of being as being … Wikipedia
Metaphysics — • That portion of philosophy which treats of the most general and fundamental principles underlying all reality and all knowledge Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Metaphysics Metaphysics … Catholic encyclopedia
Aristotle the philosopher of nature — David Furley 1 THE TREATISES ON NATURE The subject matter of the present chapter is what Aristotle has to say about the natural world the subject that in classical Greek is most accurately rendered as ta physika. But of course this includes many… … History of philosophy
Metaphysics — This article is about the branch of philosophy dealing with theories of existence and knowledge. For the work of Aristotle, see Metaphysics (Aristotle). For the occult field, see Metaphysics (supernatural). Philosophy … Wikipedia
Novum Organum — The title page illustration of Instauratio magna The Novum Organum, full original title Novum Organum Scientiarum, is a philosophical work by Francis Bacon, written in Latin and published in 1620. The title translates as new instrument, i.e. new… … Wikipedia
Cause — • Cause, as the correlative of effect, is understood as being that which in any way gives existence to, or contributes towards the existence of, any thing; which produces a result; to which the origin of any thing is to be ascribed Catholic… … Catholic encyclopedia
Aristotle’s logic and metaphysics — Alan Code PART 1: LOGICAL WORKS OVERVIEW OF ARISTOTLE’S LOGIC The Aristotelian logical works are referred to collectively using the Greek term ‘Organon’. This is a reflection of the idea that logic is a tool or instrument of, though not… … History of philosophy
