Substances
Definition
In ontology, substances are understood as entities that exist independently and are the bearers of Properties and changes. They are often referred to as the fundamental units of reality.
Historical Perspective
- Aristotle: Defined substances as individual entities (e.g., 'this man', 'this horse') that underlie and possess properties.
- Modern Philosophy: The concept of substance has evolved, sometimes equated with matter, or as an underlying entity supporting properties.
Characteristics
Independence: Substances are capable of existing on their own.
Change: They can gain or lose properties while maintaining their identity.
Particularity: Substances are individual instances of a more general category.
Types of Substances
- Primary Substances: Individual entities that stand on their own.
- Secondary Substances: Categories or species to which primary substances belong (e.g., 'human', 'animal')[^2^][2].
Ontological Theories
- Substance-Accident: Properties or accidents inhere in Substances.
- Substance-Dualism: The belief in two fundamentally different types of substances (e.g., mind and body).
- Monism: The view that there is only one kind of substance in reality.
Contemporary Views
The notion of substance continues to be a topic of discussion in modern Metaphysics, with various interpretations and theories proposed about its nature and existence.