Question

Aristole Categories

What is a primary substance? Give an example.

What is a secondary substance? Give an example.

Why are secondary substances called substance

Answer 1

What is the primary substance? Give an example.

A primary substance is something that should be ontologically and epistemically basic. Thus, a primary substance is something on which the existence of other things is dependent. Our systematic knowledge is also dependant on primary substances. Primary substances are also substances that cause change. Aristotle considered primary substances to be particular. Aristotle considered ordinary human beings to be primary substances. For example, Socrates would be a primary substance.

What is a secondary substance? Give an example.

The species in which the primary substances can be found are called secondary substances. Aristotle considered secondary substances to be universal. For example, man, the species would be considered as a secondary substance.

Why are secondary substances called a substance.

Aristotle states that in order to be called a substance, there need to be certain qualifications. One is that there must exist something known as matter. Secondly, there must be form and thirdly, there must be a combination of both, form as well as matter. Aristotle says that matter can be both, a cause of change as well as be a subject of predication. Secondary substances have matter, form as well as a combination of both, matter and form. Therefore, secondary substances are substances.