Final answer:
Aristotle defines substance as the essential reality or essence underlying and sustaining an entity's properties. He describes substance through the material cause (the matter), formal cause (the intrinsic form or essence), and final cause (the entity's purpose). Unlike Plato, Aristotle’s conception of substance is more tangible, grounded in physical existence and entwined with both form and matter.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is a Substance According to Aristotle?
According to Aristotle, substance is a key concept in his metaphysical philosophy, which refers to the basic reality or essence of a thing that underlies and sustains its properties. This concept is a departure from Plato's theory of forms, where abstract perfect forms exist independently of the physical world. Aristotle's notion of substance is grounded in the physical world and relies on the intrinsic connection between form and matter.
Aristotle's Three Descriptions of Substance, Aristotle describes substance in three primary ways:
- Material Cause: This pertains to the matter a thing is made of, like marble for a sculpture.
- Formal Cause: This refers to the form or essence, similar to the idea in the sculptor's mind, which gives shape to the matter.
- Final Cause: This is the purpose or end that the substance is supposed to serve, akin to the reason for creating a sculpture.
These causes elucidate the complexities of what constitutes a substance, integrating both the concrete and conceptual aspects that define an entity's existence.