1. Intrinsic Causes

• 1.1 Material Cause (Matter=hyle)
  • The material cause, or the matter, is what causes a being to have length, width, depth; in other words, it causes it to have dimensions.
  • Matter is what makes this thing to be this particular thing and not another.
• 1.2 Formal Cause (Form=morphe)
  • The formal cause is what causes the thing to be what it is, and not some other kind or sort of thing.

2. Extrinsic Causes

• 2.1 Efficient Cause (Agent)
  • That which by its activity produces an effect is called the efficient cause of the effect.
    • 2.1.1 Principal Cause
      • 2.1.1.1 Primary Cause
      • 2.1.1.2 Secondary Cause
    • 2.1.2 Instrumental Cause
• 2.2 Final Cause
  • This is the end or the object or the goal or the purpose which the efficient cause intends to attain.

SUMMARY

(From the Dolhenty Archives.)

• Material Cause: that out of which something is made.
• Formal Cause: that into which something is made.
• Efficient Cause: that by which something is made.
• Final Cause: that for the sake of which something is made.

Heshan, 20 July 2005