material cause

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

material cause (plural material causes)

  1. (philosophy, natural science) The stuff or matter of which something is made.
    • 1998, R. J. Schork, Greek and Hellenic Culture in Joyce, →ISBN, page 176:
      In the production of a statue of Athena for the Parthenon, the bronze is the material cause; the shape and design of the statue is the formal cause; the sculptor is the efficient cause; the honor of the goddess (and the glory of Athens) is the final cause.

Usage notes

[edit]

References

[edit]