causes birdmad to some are effects to others a ceramic mask with a downturned mouth 010917 ... epitome of incomprehensibility Material cause = matter. Formal cause = form. Efficient causes = who or what does an action. Final cause = why an action is made. At least, that's what Al-Kindi is saying and he got at least some of this from Aristotle. Don't tell Al-Kindi that I remembered the order of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle with the acronym SPA. He'll find me frivolous. 230830 what's it to you? who go blather from