- formal cause
- See causes: material, formal, efficient, final.
Philosophy dictionary. Academic. 2011.
formal cause
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Formal cause — Formal Form al (f[^o]rm al), a. [L. formalis: cf. F. formel.] 1. Belonging to the form, shape, frame, external appearance, or organization of a thing. [1913 Webster] 2. Belonging to the constitution of a thing, as distinguished from the matter… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Formal cause — Cause Cause (k[add]z), n. [F. cause, fr. L. causa. Cf. {Cause}, v., {Kickshaw}.] 1. That which produces or effects a result; that from which anything proceeds, and without which it would not exist. [1913 Webster] Cause is substance exerting its… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
formal cause — /fawr meuhl/, Aristotelianism. See under cause (def. 8b). [1350 1400; ME] * * * … Universalium
formal cause — Формальная причина … Вестминстерский словарь теологических терминов
formal cause — noun in Aristotelianism : the structure, essence, or pattern that a fully realized thing embodies … Useful english dictionary
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
cause — cause, causal explanation In non specialist contexts, to ask for the cause of some particular happening is to ask what made it happen, or brought it about. To give a causal explanation is to answer such questions, usually by specifying some prior … Dictionary of sociology
Formal — Form al (f[^o]rm al), a. [L. formalis: cf. F. formel.] 1. Belonging to the form, shape, frame, external appearance, or organization of a thing. [1913 Webster] 2. Belonging to the constitution of a thing, as distinguished from the matter composing … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Cause — (k[add]z), n. [F. cause, fr. L. causa. Cf. {Cause}, v., {Kickshaw}.] 1. That which produces or effects a result; that from which anything proceeds, and without which it would not exist. [1913 Webster] Cause is substance exerting its power into… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Formal — The term formal has a number of uses, including:General*relating to formality *opposite of informalocial* Formal occasion ** Formal attire worn on such occasions ** Formals are particular meals at some British universities ** In Australian or… … Wikipedia
