De Anna, GabrieleGabrieleDe Anna2019-09-192018-07-0520150870-5283https://fis.uni-bamberg.de/handle/uniba/44081Hylomorphism, the old traditional view according to which substances are constituted by the combination of form and matter, has recently undergone a renaissance. This essay focuses on material substance, and suggests that in this case the hylomorphic constitution calls for a notion of form which should be understood also as energy, or the exercise of a force. It further argues for substantial gradualism: when form is thus understood, substantiality comes in degrees, i.e. things can be substances to a greater or lesser degree. Substantial gradualism sheds new light on current discussions concerning the identification of the parts of substances and the compatibility between hylomorphism and sortalism.engformhylomorphismmattersubstancesubstantial gradualismarticle10.17990/RPF/2015_71_4_0855