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Single Idea 15309

[filed under theme 9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 3. Matter of an Object ]

Full Idea

The assumption that shape and solidity are the fundamental mechanical qualities requires an implausible hypothesis of a substance or material filling the space of bodies.

Gist of Idea

The assumption that shape and solidity are fundamental implies dubious 'substance' in bodies

Source

Harré,R./Madden,E.H. (Causal Powers [1975], 9.II.B)

Book Ref

Harré,R/Madden,E.H.: 'Causal Powers: A Theory of Natural Necessity' [Blackwell 1975], p.172

A Reaction

This is 'substance' in the sense of matter, rather than in the sense of an Aristotelian essence. They defend fields (rather than particles) as the fundamentals of the physical world.

The 13 ideas with the same theme [underlying material which is formed into an object]:

12134 Matter is the substratum, which supports both coming-to-be and alteration [Aristotle]
12301 Every distinct thing has matter, as long as it isn't an essence or a Form [Aristotle]
16092 In Aristotle, bronze only becomes 'matter' when it is potentially a statue [Aristotle, by Gill,ML]
12300 Aristotle's conception of matter applies to non-physical objects as well as physical objects [Aristotle, by Fine,K]
12077 Aristotle's matter is something that could be the inner origin of a natural being's behaviour [Aristotle, by Witt]
12103 Matter is secondary, because it is potential, determined by the actuality of form [Aristotle, by Witt]
11255 In feature-generation the matter (such as bronze) endures, but in generation it doesn't [Aristotle, by Politis]
11204 The ultimate material of things has the unity of total formlessness [Avicenna]
15309 The assumption that shape and solidity are fundamental implies dubious 'substance' in bodies [Harré/Madden]
12057 Matter underlies things, composes things, and brings them to be [Wiggins]
17531 I assume matter is particulate, made up of 'simples' [Inwagen]
16083 Aristotelian matter seriously threatens the intrinsic unity and substantiality of its object [Gill,ML]
13333 The matter is a relatively unstructured version of the object, like a set without membership structure [Fine,K]