Workshop 4
Final Causality
Fr. James Brent, O.P. – The Thomistic Institute
WEEK 7
1. Final Causality
Objective: Educators will interpret natural events as directed toward an end.
• All things of nature act for the sake of an end
• The four ways something is said to be a cause - material, formal, efficient, final
• Three senses of the term “end” – intention (only rational things), terminus of action, the perfection of the thing
WORKSHOP 4 OUTPUT
Workshop to be completed by participants outside of the formation setting within two weeks of completion of the workshop.
Have you ever seen wasps building a nest or a bird calling for a mate? Take a few minutes to study something in nature, ie., a bird, gecko, or plant. Is it acting in accord with its nature? Is it acting toward its final end, to live long and reproduce itself? Describe what you see it doing and whether its actions seem random or directed toward its specific final end.