In his writings, Aristotle describes and tries to break down four senses in which the word cause is used. First of all, the four ways he says the word cause is used are, "that from which something comes into, then "what it is", next is "the source of change", and last would be "that for which the sake of which". Now, the first one he uses is the material cause "that from which something comes into". For example, in the concrete statue of Michael Jordan in front of the united center, the material cause would be the concrete; therefore this concrete statue of him couldn't possibly exist if it wasn't for the concrete. Like we said in class, you couldn't possibly make a snowman without snow.
             Next is the formal cause, "what it is", in this case it would the statue of Michael Jordan himself. This is the actual form, shape, and essence the object takes. You could make many things out of concrete but it would not be a Michael Jordan statue until it actually takes on the form and shape of him. Next would be "the source of change" the efficient cause, in this case he means that which it is because of. For example a clock wouldn't be a clock if the clockmaker didn't make it into its form. The clock has many pieces of matter like the hands, the coo- coo bird that pops out, and the gears to make it turn. These things do not make a clock by themselves but become a clock by the clockmaker who actually puts it together and makes the clock itself. Now the last of the four causes Aristotle describes is "that for the sake of which" or like the purpose, goal or end. In this case telling time would the purpose of the clock, the reason why we made it. In the case of the statue of Michael Jordan the purpose is that it is a tribute to him and his dedication and his excellent years of basketball. Now in the snowman's case the purpose of this is recreati...