What are Aristotle's four causes?

Aristotle offers four causes to explain how things come to be. There is the material cause, which literally refers to the stuff that a thing is made from. There is the efficient case, which is the agent that brings something about - so essentially the hammer and nails. There is the formal cause, which is the sort of thing something is - essentially the idea in mind, so the blueprint. Lastly, there is the final cause, which is the goal or purpose.

SL
Answered by Sebastian L. Philosophy and Ethics tutor

5185 Views

See similar Philosophy and Ethics A Level tutors

Related Philosophy and Ethics A Level answers

All answers ▸

"The Strengths of Language Game Theory outweigh the weaknesses" How far do you agree with this view?


‘All ethical language is meaningless’ Discuss.


Examine the ways in which the ontological argument attempts to prove to the atheist that God exists.


Explain the Sartrean concept of existence preceding essence


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning