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Full Idea
Since antiquity prime matter has enjoyed a hallowed place in the Aristotelian system, which displays an awesome completeness, with God (pure form and actuality) at the top, and prime matter (pure matter and potentiality) at the bottom.
Gist of Idea
The traditional view of Aristotle is God (actual form) at top and prime matter (potential matter) at bottom
Source
report of Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], God) by Mary Louise Gill - Aristotle on Substance Ch.2
Book Ref
Gill,Mary Louise: 'Aristotle on Substance: Paradox of Unity' [Princeton 1989], p.42
A Reaction
Gill suggests that actually the four elements should be at the bottom, with matter only coming into it when distinct objects are in the offing. The Great Chain of Being emerged as the story between the two extremes.
Related Idea
Idea 16098 I claim that Aristotle's foundation is the four elements, and not wholly potential prime matter [Aristotle, by Gill,ML]
15771 | Primary matter is what characterises other stuffs, and it has no distinct identity [Aristotle] |
12868 | Ultimate matter is discredited, as Aristotle merged substratum of change with bearer of properties [Simons on Aristotle] |
16099 | The traditional view of Aristotle is God (actual form) at top and prime matter (potential matter) at bottom [Aristotle, by Gill,ML] |
15954 | Aristotle may only have believed in prime matter because his elements were immutable [Aristotle, by Alexander,P] |
16589 | Prime matter lacks essence, but is only potentially and indeterminately a physical thing [Auriol] |
16571 | Prime matter is exceptionally obscure [Zabarella] |
16591 | Prime matter is nothing but its parts [Vanini] |
16600 | Prime matter is body considered with mere size and extension, and potential [Hobbes] |
19399 | Prime matter is nothing when it is at rest [Leibniz] |
17006 | Prime matter has no place in Aristotle's theories, and passages claiming it are misread [Gill,ML] |
16093 | Prime matter is actually nothing and potentially everything (or potentially an element) [Gill,ML] |