究きゅう極きょく要よう因いん

noun

ultimate cause

Technical term in philosophy and biology, contrasted with 至近要因 (proximate cause). Refers to the fundamental, often evolutionary or deep-seated reason behind a phenomenon.

See also: 至近要因

• 生せい物ぶつ学がくでは、行こう動どうの究きゅう極きょく要よう因いんと至し近きん要よう因いんを区く別べつする。

  In biology, a distinction is made between the ultimate cause and the proximate cause of a behavior.

• その哲てつ学がく者しゃは、人にん間げんの幸こう福ふくの究きゅう極きょく要よう因いんを探たん求きゅうした。

  The philosopher sought the ultimate cause of human happiness.