Aristotle's Theory of Substance

Aristotle claims that everything that exists in this world is a primary substance.

According to Plato, 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:

1. Matter
2. Form

Aristotle's theory, sometimes also referred to as the theory of form, is even today under scrutiny to understand what he exactly meant by form. Nevertheless, 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 materials things 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.

• Form is that what gives the object, or the subject, its being