Efficient Cause
The "efficient cause" of an object is equivalent to that which causes change and motion to start or stop (such as a painter painting a house) (see Aristotle, Physics II 3, 194b29). In many cases, this is simply the thing that brings something about. For example, in the case of a statue, it is the person chiseling away which transforms a block of marble into a statue.
Read more about this topic: Four Causes
Famous quotes containing the word efficient:
“As machines become more and more efficient and perfect, so it will become clear that imperfection is the greatness of man.”
—Ernst Fischer (1899–1972)
“The really efficient laborer will be found not to crowd his day with work, but will saunter to his task surrounded by a wide halo of ease and leisure.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)