Aristotle’s Theory of Form and Matter

Aristotle’s theory suggests that every object has two essential components: form and matter.

• Form: The essence or idea of an object. For example, the idea of a chair—the design or blueprint.
• Matter: The physical substance, like wood or metal, that gives the object its material existence.

Both form and matter are inseparable and together define the nature of an object. For instance, a statue is made of marble (matter) and shaped into a figure (form). This is different from Plato’s idea, where forms exist independently. Aristotle believes form and matter exist together in every tangible object.