Final answer:
Aristotle's concept of substance encompasses a combination of matter and form, encapsulated in his doctrine of the four causes: material, formal, efficient, and final. This distinguishes him from Plato and grounds understanding in physical, individual instances that transform from potentiality to actuality. The correct option is a) Substance
Step-by-step explanation:
Aristotle conceptualized the nature of substances by introducing the theory of hylomorphism, distinguishing between matter and form. He presented this as part of his doctrine on the four causes, which are essential to understanding the existence and purpose of all entities.
Unlike his teacher Plato, who posited an otherworldly realm of forms, Aristotle grounded his explanation in the physical world, emphasizing the importance of particulars - individual instances of entities. He held that an entity's form informs its matter, driving it from potentiality to actuality, such as an acorn's innate form driving it to become an oak tree.
The material cause refers to the substance an object is made of, while the formal cause is akin to the architect's plan or the essential characteristics that make something what it is.
The efficient cause deals with the agent or process that brings the form into existence, and the final cause is the purpose or function for which an object exists. Together, these concepts form the basis for Aristotle's argument that the conjunction of matter and form is what defines a substance in nature.
The correct option is a) Substance