Philosophy of matter
philosophical
Philosophy of matter is the branch of philosophy concerned with issues surrounding the ontology, epistemology and character of matter and the material world. The word matter is derived from the Latin word materia, meaning 'wood', or 'timber', in the sense 'material', as distinct from 'mind' or 'form'. The image of wood came to Latin as a calque from the ancient Greek philosophical usage of hyle (ὕλη).
Ancient Greek philosophy
In ancient Greek philosophy, arche (ἀρχή) is the beginning or the first principle of the world. Thales of Miletus claimed that the first principle of all things is water. His theory was supported by the observation of moisture throughout the world and coincided with his theory that the earth floated on water.
Thales's pupil and successor, Anaximander, proposed a different theory. Anaximander noted that water could not be the arche because it could not give rise to its opposite, fire. Anaximander claimed that none of the elements (earth, fire, air, water) could be arche for the same reason. Instead, he proposed the existence of the apeiron, an indefinite substance from which all things are born and to which all things will return.
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