Without the principle of final causes, could physiology proceed a single step, render to itself an account of a single organ, or determine a single function?
The term final causes refers to a series of phenomena that are met with only where there is life, and that tend toward a definite purpose or end.
Espousing a mechanical, as opposed to a teleological, conception of the universe, they have denied or ignored all influence of purpose, and eschewed all study of final causes.
Hence the reality of a fourth class of causes, final causes.
Efficient causes account for the course of nature; but they need to be determined by the influence of final causes.
Thus his theory of Progress depends on the hypothesis of final causes.
But Kant goes on to apply to these data the debatable conception of final causes, and to infer a purpose in the development of humanity.
I have stated this problem almost in Kant's words, and as he might have stated it if he had not introduced the conception of final causes.
These profound and comprehensive thinkers have all rejected the study of final causes, which, as they have clearly seen, is a theological invasion of scientific rights.
That the whole universe must be one chain of final causes.
Janet, in his work on Final Causes, 8, denies that finality is a primitive conviction, like causality, and calls it the result of an induction.
Several objections have been urged against the doctrine of final causes; but those who profess to disbelieve in design concur in according to these organs the greatest prominence.
The doctrine of final causes is a conception thrust upon us by a vast multitude of facts from organic nature.
But it is sufficiently clear that, upon assuming the truth of our theory, the difficulty offered to the doctrine of final causes by rudimentary organs is obviated.
Nor do we wish to dispute it; for it is, to our mind, strong confirmation of the doctrine of final causes.
For this purpose we shall first show, that there is suffering in the world which is not a punishment for sin, and then declare the great ends, or final causes, of all natural evil.
The latter will admit, with Owen and every morphologist, that hopeless is the attempt to explain the similarity of pattern in members of the same class by utility or the doctrine of final causes.
Perhaps one of the most curious facts relating to the "misplacement" of Final Causes is that few more flagrant instances of that abuse can be found than some which occur in the field, not of physical but of moral science.
We defer these points, however, to a future chapter, and are satisfied now with calling attention to the "misplacement" of final causes.
This is, in effect, what Bacon says in the passage of the De Augmentis, in which he complains of the abuse of final causes.
For the handling of final causes in Physics has driven away and overthrown the diligent inquiry of physical causes.
Hence Stewart accepts the theory offinal causes as stated by Paley.
Now he agrees, as I have said, with Paley's view of natural theology and entirely accepts therefore the theory of 'final causes.
In Stewart's discussion of ethical problems the same doctrine of 'final causes' assumes a special importance.
The above list will hopefully provide you with a few useful examples demonstrating the appropriate usage of "final causes" in a variety of sentences. We hope that you will now be able to make sentences using this group of words.
