Causa causans

“Causa causans” is a Latin phrase that means “the causing cause” or “the cause that causes”. It is often used in philosophical and theological discussions to refer to the primary or ultimate cause of an event or phenomenon. In the context of causality, this term represents the initial or primary cause that triggers a sequence of causes and effects.

In various philosophical and theological traditions, discussions about causation often involve the concept of a “first cause” or a “prime mover”, which is considered the causa causans. This first cause is responsible for initiating all subsequent causes and effects in the universe. Philosophers such as Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas have explored this concept, and it plays a central role in discussions about the existence of God and the nature of causation in the cosmos.