Form

Across various philosophical traditions, the concept of “form” is expressed using different words, primarily derived from Greek, Latin, and Sanskrit, each with nuanced meanings.
Western Philosophical Traditions

Ancient Greek Philosophy (Plato and Aristotle):
- Eidos ( ): Often translated as “form” or “Idea,” especially in the context of Plato’s Theory of Forms. For Plato, eidos refers to the permanent, immutable, and transcendent reality or essence that makes a thing what it is, in contrast to its temporary physical manifestations. For Aristotle, it refers to the specific characteristic or essence that defines an object, inseparable from matter in physical objects.
- Morphē ( ): More commonly used by Aristotle, this term refers to the “shape” or “structure” of something, the active, determining principle that actualizes matter (hyle).
- Idea ( ): Another term used by Plato, closely related to eidos, referring to the abstract, ideal entities.
Medieval Philosophy:
- Forma: The Latin equivalent of morphē and eidos, widely used in medieval philosophy, particularly within Scholasticism, which was heavily influenced by Aristotle’s hylomorphism (the doctrine that physical objects are compounds of matter and form).
- Species: Another Latin term used to translate Plato’s terms, often in discussions of the “kind” or “type” of a thing.
- Entelechy: In Aristotelian philosophy, this term signifies the inner nature or potential that is responsible for an object’s ultimate development and fulfillment, often seen as the form actualizing the matter.
Hegelian Metaphysics:
- Form and Content: These terms are used to discuss the “mode of expression or existence of a thing” (form) and “the totality of the relations and potentialities of the thing” (content).
- An sich (“in itself”) and Für sich (“for itself”): Related concepts in Hegel’s metaphysics, dealing with the implicit/potential and the explicit/self-conscious nature of a thing.

Eastern Philosophical Traditions Eastern philosophies often approach the concept of form differently, frequently emphasizing unity, interconnectedness, and the a priori nature of ultimate reality rather than a strict matter-form duality.

Hinduism:
- Rūpa: A term found in some Hindu texts (also in Buddhism) that generally refers to “form,” “shape,” or “appearance,” often in the context of the physical body or material phenomena.
- Agni’s manifestations: In certain contexts, different “forms” (manifestations) are used to signify various incarnations of deities.
Buddhism:
- Rūpa: In Buddhism, rūpa is a key concept, typically referring to material form or physical phenomena, which is often considered one of the five skandhas (components of the self) and seen as impermanent.
- Dharma: While not a direct synonym for “form,” this concept, referring to the natural law or the nature of reality, underpins much of Buddhist metaphysics and how “forms” are perceived.
Taoism:
- Dao (or Tao): The “Way,” which represents the natural, spontaneous, and eternal source of the universe. The Dao itself is often described as formless and beyond conceptual understanding, out of which all specific “forms” or manifestations arise.
Chinese Philosophy (Confucianism and others):
- Li (理): In Neo-Confucianism, Li (principle) is a fundamental metaphysical concept, often discussed alongside Qi (vital force/matter). Li can be seen as the underlying principle or form that gives structure and order to the universe and individual things.