The temperament of science exists within the typology of philosophy. Aristotle’s typology of causes (explanatory factors) provides a fourfold typology, which provides the basis for each twofold scientific temperament. The four causes/factors are the final, formal, efficient/mechanism, and material.
| Final Cause or Teleology | Formal Cause |
| Efficient Cause or Mechanism | Material Cause |
The scientific temperaments are:
hylomorphic – material and formal (Aristotle)
dynahylic – efficient/mechanism and material (lower; modern)
dynamorphic –and formal (design)
dynatelic – efficient/mechanism and final (transportation)
teleomorphic – final and formal (upper)
The teleomorphic is the inverse of the dynahylic. Each temperament is a explanatory axis of the full explanation.
These explanatory factors address why and how. There are also other factors to consider: who, when, and where.