一般認為αἴτιον與αἰτία係同義詞，所以都翻譯為「原因」。但係有啲學者認為，將αἰτία（aitia）都翻譯為「原因」係一個誤導（雖然唔係好嚴重），應該將佢翻譯為「解釋」先啱   。亦即係，亞裏士多德佢係探討緊事物原因嘅各種合理解釋方法，而呢種合理解釋係人類嘅理智可以達成同埋理解，呢個原則畀經院哲學嗰陣嘅湯瑪斯·阿奎那繼承咗。
It is generally believed that αἴτιον and αἰτία are synonymous, so they are also translated as "cause". However, some scholars believe that translating αἰτία (aitia) as "cause" is misleading (though not very serious) and that it should be translated as "explanation". That is, in Aristotle he was the rational explanation of the causes of things, and this rational explanation can be reached and understood by the human intellect, a principle inherited by Thomas · Aquinas in scholasticism.