Single Idea 16033

[catalogued under 9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 2. Hylomorphism / c. Form as causal]

Full Idea

Though nothing exists in nature except individual bodies which exhibit pure individual acts [powers] in accordance with law…It is this law and its clauses which we understand by the term Forms.

Gist of Idea

There are only individual bodies containing law-based powers, and the Forms are these laws

Source

Francis Bacon (The New Organon [1620], p.103), quoted by Jan-Erik Jones - Real Essence §3

Book Reference

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.8


A Reaction

This isn't far off what Aristotle had in mind, when he talks of forms as being 'principles', though there is more emphasis on mechanisms in the original idea. Note that Bacon takes laws so literally that he refers to their 'clauses'.