Substance theory, or substance attribute theory, is an ontological theory about objecthood, positing that a substance is distinct from its properties. A thing-in-itself is a property-bearer that must be distinguished from the properties it bears.
Substance is a key concept in ontology and metaphysics. Philosophies may be divided into monist, dualist, or pluralist varieties according to the number of substances they consider the world to comprise. According to Monistic views, such as those of stoicism and Spinoza, there is only one substance, often identified as God or Being. These modes of thinking are sometimes associated with the idea of immanence. Dualism sees the world as being composed of two fundamental substances, while Pluralism, a feature of Platonism, for example, and Aristotelianism, states that more substances exist, and often that these substances can be placed into an ontological hierarchy.
Read more about Substance Theory: The Concept of Substance in Western Philosophy, Criticisms of The Concept of Substance, Primitive Concepts of Substance Theory, Arguments Supporting The Theory, Bundle Theory, Stoicism
Famous quotes containing the words substance and/or theory:
“Leave everything. Leave Dada. Leave your wife. Leave your mistress. Leave your hopes and fears. Leave your children in the woods. Leave the substance for the shadow. Leave your easy life, leave what you are given for the future. Set off on the roads.”
—André Breton (1896–1966)
“Thus the theory of description matters most.
It is the theory of the word for those
For whom the word is the making of the world,
The buzzing world and lisping firmament.”
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)