1. Intrinsic Causes

1.1 Material Cause (Matter=hyle)

• The material cause, or the matter, is what causes a being to have length, width, depth; in other words, it causes it to have dimensions.
• Matter is what makes this thing to be this particular thing and not another.

1.2 Formal Cause (Form=morphe)

• The formal cause is what causes the thing to be what it is, and not some other kind or sort of thing.

2. Extrinsic Causes

2.1 Efficient Cause (Agent)

• That which by its activity produces an effect is called the efficient cause of the effect.

  2.1.1 Principal Cause

  2.1.1.1 Primary Cause

  2.1.1.2 Secondary Cause

  2.1.2 Instrumental Cause

2.2 Final Cause

• This is the end or the object or the goal or the purpose which the efficient cause intends to attain.

SUMMARY

• Material Cause: that out of which something is made.
• Formal Cause: that into which something is made.
• Efficient Cause: that by which something is made.
• Final Cause: that for the sake of which something is made.