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Aristotle's Four Causes Explained

The document discusses Aristotle's theory of causality, which identifies four types of causes that provide information about the existence of a thing: 1) material cause, the physical material that makes up the object, 2) formal cause, the essence or shape of the object, 3) efficient cause, the entity that brings the object into existence, and 4) final cause, the purpose or function of the object. It provides examples of a wooden chair and bronze statue to illustrate how each has a material, formal, efficient and final cause.

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Justin Abad
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51 views6 pages

Aristotle's Four Causes Explained

The document discusses Aristotle's theory of causality, which identifies four types of causes that provide information about the existence of a thing: 1) material cause, the physical material that makes up the object, 2) formal cause, the essence or shape of the object, 3) efficient cause, the entity that brings the object into existence, and 4) final cause, the purpose or function of the object. It provides examples of a wooden chair and bronze statue to illustrate how each has a material, formal, efficient and final cause.

Uploaded by

Justin Abad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

PRINCIPLE OF CAUSALITY

Theory of causality is intimately connected to existence of


technology.

Knowledge of the causes implies the knowledge of its existence.

The four causes gives information on the existence of a thing.


According to Aristotle, there are four causes:

1. The material cause [causa materialis] "that out of which" it is


made.“ The physical elements of one thing.
2. The formal cause [causa formalis ] the essence of the object.
Based on the shape of the material cause.
3. The efficient cause [causa efficiens ] the one that brought the
existence.
4. The final cause[causa finalis] the end/goal of the object, or what
the object is good for. The unity of the formal and material cause
setting forth the completion of the thing.
MATERIAL FORMAL CAUSE EFFICIENT FINAL CAUSE
CAUSE CAUSE
WOODEN CHAIR WOOD SHAPE CARPENTER FURNITURE or
THRONE

BRONZE STATUE BRONZE SHAPE OF THE ARTISAN ARTISTIC STATUE


STATUE
EXPLANATION
1. Bronze is not only the material out of which the statue
is made. It is also the subject of change. It is the thing that
undergoes change and results in the statue.
2. The bronze is melted & poured in order to acquire a new shape.
Production of the shape is the formal cause
3. The artistic process of the bronze casting done by the artisan is
efficient cause.
4. Final cause is the coming together of the material and formal
cause as the bronze statue came upon into completion.
THE SAME MATERIAL CAUSE, EFFICIENT CAUSE BUT DIFFERENT FORMAL
CAUSE & FINAL CAUSE.
LADY BRONZE STATUE CUP BRONZE STATUE

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