Final answer:
Aristotle's concept of formal and final causes provides insight into the 'what' and 'why' of objects and events, forming part of a comprehensive system to understand the causality of the universe.
Step-by-step explanation:
The questions related to the formal and final causes are central to Aristotle's philosophical inquiry into the nature of things. The formal cause answers the question of 'What shape does it have?' which refers to the form or essence of an object, while the final cause addresses 'What is its end goal?' indicating the purpose or function of an object. Aristotle's exploration of these causes is an attempt to understand not just individual objects but the nature of the universe as a whole, as they are part of a system of causation that culminates in the very first cause or prime mover, a concept that Aristotle describes as 'thought thinking itself.'
Understanding the causation of an event or object involves considering all four of Aristotle’s causes. When applied to broader scenarios such as historical events, causes must be examined at different levels of significance, from immediate to long-term circumstances, which is similar to the way historians evaluate the 'why' of events. In this capacity, identifying the formal and final causes provides answers to what makes a particular situation what it is and why it came to be.