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Single Idea 12299

[filed under theme 26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 6. Early Matter Theories / a. Greek matter ]

Full Idea

Aristotle had a hierarchical conception of matter; what is matter may itself have matter.

Gist of Idea

Aristotle had a hierarchical conception of matter

Source

report of Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], matter) by Kit Fine - Aristotle on Matter §1

Book Ref

-: 'Mind' [-], p.36


A Reaction

This shows that Aristotle's 'hule' is not like our word 'matter' so a real effort must be made to grasp how he is conceptualising it.


The 12 ideas with the same theme [early Greek views on basic solid stuff]:

Mind creates the world from a mixture of pure substances [Anaxagoras, by ]
Matter is the limit of points and lines, and must always have quality and form [Aristotle]
The primary matter is the substratum for the contraries like hot and cold [Aristotle]
Matter is neither a particular thing nor a member of a determinate category [Aristotle]
Matter is perceptible (like bronze) or intelligible (like mathematical objects) [Aristotle]
Substance must exist, because something must endure during change between opposites [Aristotle]
Aristotle had a hierarchical conception of matter [Aristotle, by Fine,K]
Aristotle says matter is a lesser substance, rather than wholly denying that it is a substance [Aristotle, by Kung]
Matter desires form, as female desires male, and ugliness desires beauty [Aristotle]
Aristotle's matter can become any other kind of matter [Aristotle, by Wiggins]
Stripped and passive matter is just a human invention [Bacon]
The components of abstract definitions could play the same role as matter for physical objects [Fine,K]