What is Aristotle's theory of the four causes?
I proposed that to fully understand any phenomenon, one must identify its four causes. The material cause is what something is made of, like the bronze of a statue. The formal cause is its form or essence, the idea of the statue. The efficient cause is the agent that brought it into being, the sculptor. Finally, the final cause, or telos, is its purpose or end, to be admired. Understanding these four aspects provides a complete explanation.