Revisiting Aristotle’s causality: model for development in Nigeria

Abstract

This work critically examined the implications of Aristotle‟s theory of causality for development. Aristotle classified the causes of things into four categories: material cause, formal cause, efficient cause and final cause. The question confronting this work is, what is the material causes, formal causes, efficient causes and final causes for development as may be applicable to Nigeria? In view of the problem confronting this work, the work is significant as it is a contribution to existing literature on development and it demonstrates in practical terms how the four causes can be catalyst for societal development. This work argued that the four causes unravel the progress of development from third world to first world through the materials necessary for economic growth and to its high points of qualitative improvement of living conditions. This work argued further that economic growth is the material cause of development and the states formal cause, efficient cause and final cause in specific terms as applied to development. The work concluded by asserting that economic growth without human development cannot be said to be development and human development without economic growth cannot be said to be development. Thus, the development equation must be balanced. Aristotle‟s theory of causality balances the equation. Since Aristotle has no theory of development therefore every individual, nation or industry in pursuit of development should seek to drive economic growth and human capital development together rather than focus on one at the expense of the other.