Prime Matter and the Explanation of Generation and Corruption in Aristotle's Philosophy

In the tradition of philosophy Prime matter has been often accepted as a genuine Aristotelian concept. However، this has been doubted by some modern scholars. The dispute is mainly whether Aristotle committed to prime matter or not. On the other hand، some scholars still endorse prime matter as a part of Aristotle’s philosophy. Prime matter is tied up to the problem of generation. Generation، in a sense is “absolute becoming”، i. e. not “becoming something”، whereas the general analysis of change indicates that in all becoming something remains. It is on this aporia that prime matter plays its role. Prime matter seems to be able to solve the difficulty and we can maintain both that generation is absolute becoming and that something remains in the course of generation. Moreover the replacement of one element with another one can’t be explained without prime matter، because there is nothing prior to the elements i. e. to water، air، fire and earth، to be as the secondary matter. In this article، explaining the relation between matter and form، I have tried to clarify the meaning of “matter remaining” in the course of generation، and “combination of matter and form” in sensible substances. In this analysis، the concept of “potentiality” has a central role. When potentiality actualizes، then there is no potentiality، although this present actuality is the actualization of that potentiality. In the same manner، when we say a matter gets a new form، it means that the matter which was an indeterminate thing becomes form and determinate. Accordingly، the combination of matter and form means that each material substance happens “from” a certain subject and reaches an end، and the matter remaining means that this certain matter، and not any other one، has changed into the form، but it doesn’t mean something endures in the course of the process of generation. If this interpretation of remaining and combination is accepted، there will be no room for prime matter.