Aristotle uses the term cause (Greek αἴτιον, aition)[1] to mean an explanation for how a thing came about;[2]“x is the αἴτιον of y” means “x makes a y”. Aristotle argues in the Metaphysics that these “causes” are of four kinds:
- A thing’s material cause is the material it consists of. (For a table, that might be wood; for a statue, that might be bronze or marble.)
- A thing’s formal cause is its form, i.e. shape.
- A thing’s efficient cause is what is generally meant by the English word “cause”. (For a table, that might be a carpenter.)
- A thing’s final cause is the purpose it will be used for. (For a table, that might be a desk, altar, decorative console, etc.)
