formal cause en · NOUN
Meanings
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(natural) The design, pattern, or pure concept of a thing, which gives form or structure to its matter.
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.
1998, R. J. Schork, Greek and Hellenic Culture in Joyce, →ISBN, page 176:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| formal causes | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (1)
nb form (Translations)