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Full Idea
Aristotle's conception of matter permits any kind of matter to become any other kind of matter.
Gist of Idea
Aristotle's matter can become any other kind of matter
Source
report of Aristotle (works [c.330 BCE]) by David Wiggins - Substance 4.11.2
Book Ref
'Philosophy: a Guide Through the Subject', ed/tr. Grayling,A.C. [OUP 1995], p.235
A Reaction
This is obviously crucial background information when we read Aristotle on matter. Our 92+ elements, and fixed fundamental particles, gives a quite different picture. Aristotle would discuss form and matter quite differently now.
| 22727 | Mind creates the world from a mixture of pure substances [Anaxagoras, by ] |
| 13216 | Matter is the limit of points and lines, and must always have quality and form [Aristotle] |
| 17994 | The primary matter is the substratum for the contraries like hot and cold [Aristotle] |
| 16590 | Matter is neither a particular thing nor a member of a determinate category [Aristotle] |
| 10955 | Matter is perceptible (like bronze) or intelligible (like mathematical objects) [Aristotle] |
| 601 | Substance must exist, because something must endure during change between opposites [Aristotle] |
| 12299 | Aristotle had a hierarchical conception of matter [Aristotle, by Fine,K] |
| 12001 | Aristotle says matter is a lesser substance, rather than wholly denying that it is a substance [Aristotle, by Kung] |
| 16762 | Matter desires form, as female desires male, and ugliness desires beauty [Aristotle] |
| 12058 | Aristotle's matter can become any other kind of matter [Aristotle, by Wiggins] |
| 16624 | Stripped and passive matter is just a human invention [Bacon] |
| 14265 | The components of abstract definitions could play the same role as matter for physical objects [Fine,K] |