Aristotle's Theory of Substance
In addressing the problem of dualism, and in trying to bring everything into unity, Aristotle developed his theory of substance. Plato had his theory of ideas, Aristotle had his theory of substance. And what Aristotle meant by this is that all individual entities, everything that exists in this world, exists as a primary substance.
According to Plato on the other hand, all the concrete objects that we find in this world are called receptacles. They are imperfect copies of the real ideas that exist in the other, the ideal world! For Aristotle, however, the individual objects, entities, and things that we encounter in this world are real. And they are substantial. And every substance is comprised of two aspects, or two things:
- Matter
- Form
Aristotle finds the resolution to the ancient problem of being and becoming within the distinction of the terms matter and form. Plato believes that being is the ideal object found in the other (ideal) world, whereas becoming is the receptacle or material thing down here.
For Aristotle being and becoming are found in each individual entity. Every substance that there is, contains within it both matter and form.
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