Aquinas' Doctrine of Form and Matter

The aim of the search for principles is to elaborate a metaphysical science or a universal form of thought that is insightful and realistic. It is helpful to begin by thinking about Aquinas' doctrine of form and matter. The presumption here is that we can come to know the very basic structures of reality imperfectly but truly as they are in themselves. This allows us to speak rightly about the metaphysical nature of reality in universally applicable ways.