動どう力りょく因いん

noun

efficient cause

In Aristotelian philosophy, the agent or force that brings something into being; one of the four causes. Often contrasted with 作用因.

See also: 作用因

• アリストテレスの四よん原げん因いん説せつでは、動どう力りょく因いんは変へん化かを引ひき起おこすものを指さす。

  In Aristotle's theory of the four causes, the efficient cause refers to that which brings about change.