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Single Idea 11204

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

Full Idea

The ultimate material of things has the unity of total formlessness.

Gist of Idea

The ultimate material of things has the unity of total formlessness

Source

Avicenna (Abu Ibn Sina) (Commentary on the Metaphysics [1022], 11/12.14), quoted by Thomas Aquinas - De Ente et Essentia (Being and Essence)

Book Ref

Aquinas,Thomas: 'Selected Philosophical Writings', ed/tr. McDermott,Timothy [OUP 1993], p.97


A Reaction

This remark is not invalidated by developments in modern particle physics.


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

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