Causa Efficiens versus Causa Formalis: origens da discuss\~ao moderna sobre a dimensionalidade do espa\c{c}o

Abstract

Metascientific criteria used for explaining or constraining physical space dimensionality and their historical relationship to prevailing causal systems are discussed. The important contributions by Aristotle, Kant and Ehrenfest to the dimensionality of space problem are considered and shown to be grounded on different causal explanations: {\it causa materialis} for Aristotle, {\it causa efficiens} for young Kant and an ingenious combination of {\it causa efficiens} and {\it causa formalis} for Ehrenfest. The prominent and growing r\^ole played by {\it causa formalis} in modern physical approaches to this problem is emphasized.