final cause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "final cause" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in discussions about philosophy, particularly in the context of teleology or the purpose of an object or action. For example, "The final cause of a knife is to cut." Alternative expressions include "ultimate purpose" and "end goal."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The final cause?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Working conditions provided the riots' final cause.

The New York Times

Final cause plays no part in our physics.

The New York Times

There is the final cause and there is the motor cause.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Investigators have not determined a final cause of the Lion Air crash.

The Washington Post

His final cause was to end the two-party system, which he believed stifled real choice.

The New York Times

A final cause, the most intangible but probably the most powerful, is culture.

The Economist

Boyd, an assistant chief deputy coroner, said it would take several more weeks to determine the final cause of death.

The Guardian - Film

This negligent turn violated every notion of good seamanship and was the final cause of the collision.

The New York Times

HE WAS OBJECT OF ATTACK Politicians in Paris Tried to Oust Director, but Economy Was the Final Cause.

The New York Times

And we can understand a thing's function or end (final cause), as when we say that eyes are for seeing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In forensic or journalistic contexts, specify the "final cause" of an event to distinguish the immediate trigger from the underlying purpose or ultimate result.

Common error

Avoid using "final cause" to simply mean the 'last thing that happened' in a chronological list of events unless you are referring to a coroner's report. In most writing, it specifically refers to the intention or goal (teleology) rather than the temporal conclusion.

Linguistic Context

As noted by Ludwig, the term "final cause" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It acts as a specialized technical term within metaphysics and forensics. Its grammatical behavior is stable, typically appearing as the subject or object of a sentence to define the 'teleological end' of a subject.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

Academia

30%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "final cause" is a robust and grammatically precise term used to describe the ultimate purpose or goal of an object or action. Ludwig AI highlights its dual usage: in philosophical and biological contexts, it refers to teleology (the 'why'), whereas in forensic contexts, it refers to the concluding event in a causal chain. It is most frequently found in high-authority sources like MIT and the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, making it an ideal choice for formal writing that requires precision in explaining intent and function. When using it, ensure you distinguish it from the "efficient cause" to maintain academic rigor.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ultimate purpose

Broadens the scope to the fundamental reason for existence.

teleological end

Uses formal philosophical terminology specifically associated with goal-oriented systems.

end goal

A more common, less academic way to describe the intended outcome.

intended function

Shifts focus to the design and mechanical operation rather than metaphysical purpose.

functional end

Connects the purpose specifically to the practical utility of an object.

raison d'etre

A French loanword emphasizing the justification for something's existence.

underlying objective

Suggests a core goal that might not be immediately apparent.

finality

Refers to the quality or state of being final or having an end in view.

definitive reason

Focuses on the logical conclusion or ultimate explanation.

terminal cause

Emphasizes the temporal end of a causal chain.

FAQs

What does "final cause" mean in philosophy?

In philosophy, the "final cause" refers to the purpose, goal, or end toward which something aims. For example, the "final cause" of a house is to provide shelter. You might also call this its "ultimate purpose".

What is the difference between "final cause" and "efficient cause"?

While a "final cause" is the goal or purpose, an "efficient cause" is the agent or force that brings the thing into being. For a statue, the sculptor is the efficient cause, while the "final cause" is the aesthetic appreciation or commemoration it provides.

Can I use "final cause" in a medical or legal report?

Yes, in medical contexts, it often appears as the "final cause of death", referring to the immediate biological event that ended a life. In these cases, it functions more as a "definitive reason" rather than a philosophical goal.

Is "final cause" still relevant in modern science?

While modern physics largely ignores the "final cause", it remains a useful concept in biology to describe the "intended function" of organs or behaviors, such as saying the "final cause" of a heart is to pump blood.