CAUSE

Four kinds of causes have been distinguished by logicians:—the material, the efficient, the formal, and the final. The material cause of a thing is that out of which that thing is made; in other words, that which is the ground of the po ibility of a thing's coming into existence:e. g. the marble out of which a statue is made. The efficient cause is that in which resides the moving power requisite in order to render the po ible existence actual; as the sculptor. The final cause of the thing is that very thing in its completene ; as the statue when made. The formal cause is that which must supervene to the matter,, in order to give the thing its precise individual existence as that thing and no other; as the shape which (he sculptor communicates to the marble. This distinction is derived originally from Aristotle, with whom, however,tion.it is See rather Aristo tel i an a metaphysical'than Philosophy.a logical deter min a In popular language, ihe final cause is synonymous with the purpose to which any object is supposed to contribute, though that, purpose be wholly external to the thing caused. [s. 218]