How to Achieve Anything | Philosophy of Aristotle

The material cause is the list of ingredients required to produce an effect.

For example: ingredients = cake.

Or: in-demand product or service = successful business.

Analyzing past successes that have been known to work can be helpful as well.

For example: superhero movie = successful movie.

The formal cause is how you are supposed to combine the ingredients to produce the effect.

For example: recipe = cake.

Or: easily accessible = successful business.

More specific details can create more complex equations.

For example: hero’s journey = successful movie.

The final cause explains the purpose of the effect or why it happened in the first place.

For example: hunger = cake.

Or: serve customers = successful business.

You can go infinite levels in depth when it comes to breaking down the causes.

For example: journey to a battle where the hero eventually wins = successful movie.

Breaking any effect down into its four causes allows one to understand how it can be achieved.

For example: baker+ingredients+recipe+hunger = cake.

Or: entrepreneur+in-demand product or service+easily accessible+serve customers = successful business.

Or: hardworking, educated and resilient filmmakers+superhero movie+hero’s journey+journey to a battle where the hero eventually wins = successful movie.

Bottom Line: having an understanding of the process required to achieve success can greatly improve your chances of reaching it.