Substance theory

Substance theory, or substance–attribute theory, is an <a href="/facts/Ontology/QJKTsEIJ">ontological</a> theory positing that <a href="/facts/Object_(philosophy)/rf48DMvm">objects</a> are constituted each by a substance and <a href="/facts/Property_(philosophy)/mejP0slr">properties</a> borne by the substance but distinct from it. In this role, a substance can be referred to as a substratum or a <a href="/facts/Thing-in-itself/KRQhuqgl">thing-in-itself</a>. Substances are <a href="/facts/Particulars/AwbfD8jx">particulars</a> that are <a href="/facts/Ontology/QJKTsEIJ">ontologically independent</a>: they are able to exist all by themselves. Another defining feature often attributed to substances is their ability to undergo changes. Changes involve something existing before, during and after the change. They can be described in terms of a persisting substance gaining or losing properties. Attributes or properties, on the other hand, are entities that can be exemplified by substances. Properties characterize their bearers; they express what their bearer is like.
Substance is a key concept in <a href="/facts/Ontology/QJKTsEIJ">ontology</a>, the latter in turn part of <a href="/facts/Metaphysics/fSFt6SHe">metaphysics</a>, which may be classified into <a href="/facts/Monist/eskX5hbg">monist</a>, <a href="/facts/Mind-body_dualism/IbrW6R7C">dualist</a>, or <a href="/facts/Pluralism_(philosophy)/4QIzRRew">pluralist</a> varieties according to how many substances or individuals are said to populate, furnish, or exist in the world. According to monistic views, there is only one substance. <a href="/facts/Stoicism/hQu81X5x">Stoicism</a> and <a href="/facts/Spinoza/CB9g9BbG">Spinoza</a>, for example, hold monistic views, that <a href="/facts/Pneuma/6snWuU5D">pneuma</a> or <a href="/facts/God/KAykGr3G">God</a>, respectively, is the one substance in the world. These modes of thinking are sometimes associated with the idea of <a href="/facts/Immanence/dSK4m4kv">immanence</a>. Dualism sees the world as being composed of two fundamental substances (for example, the Cartesian <a href="/facts/Substance_dualism/IbrW6R7C">substance dualism</a> of <a href="/facts/Mental_substance/Ae2ACQmX">mind</a> and <a href="/facts/Res_extensa/Hq3mhNm3">matter</a>). Pluralist philosophies include <a href="/facts/Plato/sPedMo74">Plato</a>'s <a href="/facts/Theory_of_Forms/e0zj3JR2">Theory of Forms</a> and <a href="/facts/Aristotle/U2bDlBFW">Aristotle</a>'s <a href="/facts/Hylomorphic/sMcCdKo5">hylomorphic</a> <a href="/facts/Categories_(Aristotle)/RhVSFAIG">categories</a>.

Substance theory open-in-new

Substance theory