Cause and Factor are two terms that are often understood in the same sense. However, they are not interchangeable and show important differences between them. A cause is the agent that is responsible for producing an effect. On the other hand, a factor is an agent that is affecting an object, a procedure, or a process. The presence of chlorophyll in the leaves is a factor that brings about the process called photosynthesis in the plants. Malaria, on the other hand, is caused by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito. Here the cause is the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito, and the effect is the disease called malaria.
Key Takeaways
- A cause is the agent that is responsible for producing an effect, while a factor is an agent that is affecting an object, a procedure, or a process.
- There are three kinds of causes: inherent cause, material cause, and instrumental cause.
- The term ‘factor’ is often heard in the case of scientific experiments and scientific laws, and it has different meanings when used in different subjects.
