Studying Medieval Hylomorphism Whole: Hylomorphic Theory in Intellectual Context, 1250-1400

Hylomorphism – the philosophical theory that every physical object is composed of structurable “matter” (“hyle” in Greek) and structuring “form” (“morphe”) – has a 2500-year history from its Aristotelian beginnings to today’s metaphysics. Research on later medieval hylomorphism (ca. 1250-1400) tends to divide up along the organizational lines of the medieval higher educational system, e.g. into study of theological works or study of philosophical works (like commentaries on Aristotle) but not both at once. This project aims to look at later medieval hylomorphism “whole”: to examine aspects of the development of medieval hylomorphic theory in as much extant literature as possible, theological and philosophical. Was there one unified discussion? Or were there several parallel discussions? The project is thus a detailed study of medieval hylomorphism and its intellectual context.

Keywords:matter, form, substance, elements, change

Disciplines:History of philosophy, Metaphysics