According to Aristotle's Four Causes, the efficient cause is:
A. the "matter" of which a thing is made.
B. the embedded form that gives shape and purpose to the "matter."
C. the "triggering" action that sets the thing in motion.
D. the ultimate purpose for which a thing exists.

The efficient cause, according to Aristotle, is the action that initiates change, distinct from the material, formal, and final causes. It represents the triggering action that brings something into existence. For example, an artist's chiseling of stone is the efficient cause of a sculpture's creation.
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Answered by Anonymous | 2025-07-04

Aristotle's efficient cause is the action that triggers a change or existence of an object, distinct from the material, formal, and final causes. While the material cause refers to the substance, the formal cause relates to its structure, and the final cause involves its purpose. An example is an artist using a chisel to create a sculpture, which serves as the efficient cause. ;

Answered by GinnyAnswer | 2025-07-04