Definitions for final cause
fi·nal cause

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. final causenoun

   (philosophy) the end or purpose of a thing or process

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. final cause

   The four causes or four explanations are, in Aristotelian thought, four fundamental types of answer to the question "why?", in analysis of change or movement in nature: the material, the formal, the efficient, and the final. Aristotle wrote that "we do not have knowledge of a thing until we have grasped its why, that is to say, its cause." While there are cases in which classifying a "cause" is difficult, or in which "causes" might merge, Aristotle held that his four "causes" provided an analytical scheme of general applicability.Aristotle's word aitia (Greek: αἰτία) has, in philosophical scholarly tradition, been translated as 'cause'. This peculiar, specialized, technical, usage of the word 'cause' is not that of everyday English language. Rather, the translation of Aristotle's αἰτία that is nearest to current ordinary language is "explanation."In Physics II.3 and Metaphysics V.2, Aristotle holds that there are four kinds of answers to "why" questions: Matter The material cause of a change or movement. This is the aspect of the change or movement that is determined by the material that composes the moving or changing things. For a table, this might be wood; for a statue, it might be bronze or marble. Form The formal cause of a change or movement. This is a change or movement caused by the arrangement, shape, or appearance of the thing changing or moving. Aristotle says, for example, that the ratio 2:1, and number in general, is the formal cause of the octave. Agent The efficient or moving cause of a change or movement. This consists of things apart from the thing being changed or moved, which interact so as to be an agency of the change or movement. For example, the efficient cause of a table is a carpenter, or a person working as one, and according to Aristotle the efficient cause of a child is a parent. End, or purpose The final cause of a change or movement. This is a change or movement for the sake of a thing to be what it is. For a seed, it might be an adult plant; for a sailboat, it might be sailing; for a ball at the top of a ramp, it might be coming to rest at the bottom.The four "causes" are not mutually exclusive. For Aristotle, several, preferably four, answers to the question "why" have to be given to explain a phenomenon and especially the actual configuration of an object. For example, if asking why a table is such and such, an explanation in terms of the four causes would sound like this: This table is solid and brown because it is made of wood (matter); it does not collapse because it has four legs of equal length (form); it is as it is because a carpenter made it, starting from a tree (agent); it has these dimensions because it is to be used by humans (end).

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. final cause

   A final cause, in philosophy, refers to the ultimate purpose, goal, or end for which something exists or is done. It is a concept founded by Aristotle, who believed that everything in the universe has a purpose or end towards which it strives. This purpose or goal is considered its "final cause." This concept is one of Aristotle's four causes or explanations of a thing -- the others being the material cause, formal cause, and efficient cause.

Matched Categories

1. • Philosophy
   • Purpose

How to pronounce final cause?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say final cause in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of final cause in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of final cause in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=final cause
2. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Cause
3. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com