Ousía

Ousía, a term originating from ancient Greek philosophy, is often translated as "substance" or "essence." It plays a central role in the metaphysics of philosophers like Aristotle and Plato. In Aristotle's work, ousía refers to the fundamental reality or essence of a thing, which underlies its properties and makes it what it is. He distinguishes between primary ousía, which are individual entities like a particular tree or person, and secondary ousía, which are the species or forms that these individuals share.

Plato, on the other hand, uses the term in his theory of forms, where ousía represents the eternal, unchanging forms or ideas that exist beyond the physical world. These forms are the true reality, while the physical objects we perceive are mere imitations or shadows of these forms. For Plato, the ousía of a thing is its ideal form, such as the Form of the Good or the Form of the Beautiful.

The concept of ousía has been influential in Western philosophy and theology, shaping discussions about the nature of reality, existence, and essence. It has been interpreted and reinterpreted by various philosophers and scholars throughout history, reflecting its enduring significance in metaphysical inquiry.