Section: Organization Studies
Topic: Economic sciences, Philosophy

Embracing causal complexity: An analytical framework based on Aristotle’s conceptualization of causes and causalities

Delacour, Helene1 orcid  ; Zaara, Andrea2 
1CEREFIGE, University of Lorraine - Nancy, France
2SIG - Geneva, Switzerland

Corresponding author(s): Delacour, Helene (helene.delacour@univ-lorraine.fr)

10.24072/pcjournal.532 - Peer Community Journal, Volume 5 (2025), article no. e27

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Despite the recognition of the benefits of the complex causality perspective to understand organizational phenomena, it remains difficult to apply. To address this gap, we propose an analytical framework ontologically grounded in Aristotle’s conceptualization of causes and causalities. This framework unfolds in three steps: First, it identifies the four primary and per se causes; second, the other causes, including accidents, instruments and secondary causes; and third, it examines their interrelations through two types of causalities—reciprocal and total, as well as partial convergent or divergent. By providing an ontological foundation for causes and causalities our framework allows researchers to investigate any organizational phenomena, thereby operationalizing and deepening our understanding of causal complexity.

Published online:
DOI: 10.24072/pcjournal.532
Type: Research article
Keywords: Aristotle, Causes, Causalities, Causal complexity, Ontology, Organization Studies

Delacour, Helene  1 ; Zaara, Andrea  2

1 CEREFIGE, University of Lorraine - Nancy, France
2 SIG - Geneva, Switzerland
License: CC-BY 4.0
Copyrights: The authors retain unrestricted copyrights and publishing rights
Web-published in collaboration with: UGA Éditions
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Delacour, H.; Zaara, A. Embracing causal complexity: An analytical framework based on Aristotle’s conceptualization of causes and causalities. Peer Community Journal, Volume 5 (2025), article  no. e27. https://doi.org/10.24072/pcjournal.532

PCI peer reviews and recommendation, and links to data, scripts, code and supplementary information: 10.24072/pci.orgstudies.100038

Conflict of interest of the recommender and peer reviewers:
The recommender in charge of the evaluation of the article and the reviewers declared that they have no conflict of interest (as defined in the code of conduct of PCI) with the authors or with the content of the article.

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