Metaphysics

Aristotle’s Metaphysics is a foundational work in Western philosophy that seeks to understand the fundamental principles of reality. It is divided into thirteen books, which explore the nature of existence, substance, and essence. Aristotle’s inquiry begins with the question of what causes change in the world, and he proposes a theory of potentiality and actuality to explain this phenomenon. According to Aristotle, everything in the universe is made up of substances, which are the underlying entities that persist through change. These substances are defined by their forms or essences, which determine their properties and potential for change. He distinguishes between primary substances, which are concrete individual things, and secondary substances, which are the general categories or species to which these things belong.