Substantial form
A theory of Substantial forms asserts there are things called Forms (or Ideas), and they are what organizes matter and makes it intelligible. Substantial forms are what is delivered to us through sensation and this is one solution to the problem of universals. The idea of substantial forms dominates greek philosophy, is a major theme in medieval philosophy, but has fallen out of favour in modern philosophy.<ref>David Banach. What Killed Substantial Form? [1]
Platonic Forms
Aristotelian forms
Hylomorphism
Early adoptation
Both Platonic and Aristotelian forms appear in medieval philosophy. Medieval theologians, newly exposed to Aristotle's philosophy, applied hylomorphism to Christianity, such as to the transubstantiation of the Eucharist's bread and wine to the body and blood of Jesus. Theologians such as Duns Scotus developed Christian applications of hylomorphism. The Aristotelian conception of form was adopted by the Scholastics, to whom, however, its origin in the observation of the physical universe was an entirely foreign idea. The most remarkable adaptation is probably that of Aquinas, who distinguished the spiritual world with its subsistent forms (formae separatae) from the material with its inherent forms which exist only in combination with matter.