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Res Extensa
''Res extensa'' is one of the two substances described by René Descartes in his Cartesian ontology (often referred to as "radical dualism"), alongside '' res cogitans''. Translated from Latin, "''res extensa''" means "extended thing" while the latter is described as "a thinking and unextended thing". Descartes often translated ''res extensa'' as "corporeal substance" but it is something that only God can create. ''Res extensa'' vs. ''res cogitans'' ''Res extensa'' and ''res cogitans'' are mutually exclusive and this makes it possible to conceptualize the complete intellectual independence from the body. ''Res cogitans'' is also referred to as the soul and is related by thinkers such as Aristotle in his ''De Anima'' to the indefinite realm of potentiality. On the other hand, ''res extensa'', are entities described by the principles of logic and are considered in terms of definiteness. Due to the polarity of these two concepts, the natural science focused on ''res extensa''. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Substance Theory
Substance theory, or substance–attribute theory, is an ontological theory positing that objects are constituted each by a ''substance'' and properties borne by the substance but distinct from it. In this role, a substance can be referred to as a ''substratum'' or a '' thing-in-itself''. ''Substances'' are particulars that are ontologically independent: 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 ontology and metaphysics, which may be classified into monist, dualist, or pluralist varieties according t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |