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'''Substance''', in philosophy, refers to the ultimate constituent or constituents of reality on which everything else depends. Substance is the "thing-in-itself," as distinct from the properties it bears. A philosophy may be said to be monist, dualist, or pluralist according to how many ultimate substances they consider to exist in the cosmos. In the writings of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|Mme. Blavatsky]] a "substance" is seen as the cause of [[matter]] on any given [[plane]], although this substance in turn may appear as matter when seen from a higher plane.
 
== General definition ==
 
[[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|Mme. Blavatsky]] explained that "substance is not [[matter]] in metaphysics."<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Secret Doctrine'' vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 508.</ref> Rather, it is "the [[Noumenon]] [or cause] of matter."<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. VIII (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1990), 317.</ref> However, the concept of substance in the [[Esoteric Philosophy]] is relative. Again, in Blavatsky's words:
 
<blockquote>But the Occult sciences, while calling Substance the noumenon of every material form, explain that noumenon as being still matter—only on another plane. That which is noumenon to our human perceptions is matter to those of a Dhyan Chohan.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. VIII (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1990), 317.</ref></blockquote>
 
== Pre-cosmic substance ==
 
 
== Cosmic substance ==
 
== See also ==
 
 
 
== Notes ==
<references/>
 
[[Category:Philosophical concepts]]
[[Category:Theosophical concepts]]
[[Category:Concepts in The Secret Doctrine]]

Revision as of 23:24, 17 August 2016

Substance, in philosophy, refers to the ultimate constituent or constituents of reality on which everything else depends. Substance is the "thing-in-itself," as distinct from the properties it bears. A philosophy may be said to be monist, dualist, or pluralist according to how many ultimate substances they consider to exist in the cosmos. In the writings of Mme. Blavatsky a "substance" is seen as the cause of matter on any given plane, although this substance in turn may appear as matter when seen from a higher plane.

General definition

Mme. Blavatsky explained that "substance is not matter in metaphysics."[1] Rather, it is "the Noumenon [or cause] of matter."[2] However, the concept of substance in the Esoteric Philosophy is relative. Again, in Blavatsky's words:

But the Occult sciences, while calling Substance the noumenon of every material form, explain that noumenon as being still matter—only on another plane. That which is noumenon to our human perceptions is matter to those of a Dhyan Chohan.[3]

Pre-cosmic substance

Cosmic substance

See also

Notes

  1. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 508.
  2. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings vol. VIII (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1990), 317.
  3. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings vol. VIII (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1990), 317.