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final cause

Noun

Meaning

(philosophy) the end or purpose of a thing or process

Source: WordNet

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Examples

For that which is without a beginning, a final cause need not be sought. Maimonides

I am of the opinion that the main and final cause why the prince pretends to the power of altering the coinage is the profit or gain which he can get from it. Nicole Oresme

Aristotle, Metaphysics IX 1050a 5–10 In summary, the matter used to make a house has potentiality to be a house and both the activity of building and the form of the final house are actualities, which is also a final cause or end. Source: Internet

Sāṃkhya denies the final cause of Ishvara (God).sfn While the Samkhya school considers the Vedas as a reliable source of knowledge, it is an atheistic philosophy according to Paul Deussen and other scholars. Source: Internet

Sedley (2007), page 186. According to Aristotle the changes which happen by nature are caused by their " formal causes ", and for example in the case of a bird's wings there is also a final cause which is the purpose of flying. Source: Internet

As a further kind of explanation, Aristotle identified the final cause, specifying a purpose or criterion of completion in light of which something should be understood. Source: Internet

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