Full Idea
Aristotle's notion of matter, unlike ours, is of something that could be the inner origin of a natural being's behaviour.
Gist of Idea
Aristotle's matter is something that could be the inner origin of a natural being's behaviour
Source
report of Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], matter) by Charlotte Witt - Substance and Essence in Aristotle 3.1
Book Reference
Witt,Charlotte: 'Substance and Essence in Aristotle' [Cornell 1994], p.77
A Reaction
This conforms with my idea of matter, as something active, containing powers, not some inert stuff waiting for the hand of God to bring it into life.