Inherence refers to
Empedocles' idea that the
qualities of
matter come from the relative
proportions of each of the
four elements entering into a thing. The idea was further developed by
Plato and
Aristotle.
Overview
That Plato accepted (or at least did not reject) Empedocles' claim can be seen in the ''
Timaeus''. However, Plato also applied it to cover the presence of
form
Form is the shape, visual appearance, or configuration of an object. In a wider sense, the form is the way something happens.
Form also refers to:
*Form (document), a document (printed or electronic) with spaces in which to write or enter data
...
in matter. The form is an active principle. Matter, on the other hand is passive, being a mere
possibility that the forms bring to life.
Aristotle clearly accepted Empedocles' claim, but he rejected Plato's idea of the forms. According to Aristotle, the
accidents of a
substance
Substance may refer to:
* Matter, anything that has mass and takes up space
Chemistry
* Chemical substance, a material with a definite chemical composition
* Drug substance
** Substance abuse, drug-related healthcare and social policy diagnosis ...
are
incorporeal
Incorporeality is "the state or quality of being incorporeal or bodiless; immateriality; incorporealism." Incorporeal (Greek: ἀσώματος) means "Not composed of matter; having no material existence."
Incorporeality is a quality of souls, s ...
beings
In metaphysics, ontology is the philosophical study of being, as well as related concepts such as existence, becoming, and reality.
Ontology addresses questions like how entities are grouped into categories and which of these entities exis ...
which are present in it.
["By being 'present in a subject' I do not mean present as parts are present in a whole, but being incapable of existence apart from the said subject." (Aristotle, '' Categories'' 1a24–26).]
A closely related term is
participation. If an attribute ''inheres'' in a subject, then the subject is said to ''participate'' in the attribute. For example, if the attribute ''in Athens'' inheres in Socrates, then Socrates is said to participate in the attribute, ''in Athens.''
See also
*
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 ...
References
Concepts in metaphysics
Ontology
Natural philosophy
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