Guthrie: 3. The World of Matter.

3. The World of Matter.—In the Intelligible world, the “One” is real existence, it follows that Matter, the “Many,” is nonexistence. It is therefore absurd to call Plato’s philosophical system a dualism. Matter, “Hylê,” the indeterminate, has only negative predicates, it lacks form and quality, and cannot be apprehended by the senses. It can only be space, the form of outwardness, that is, coexistence and unordered sequence. It is an empty form waiting for a content to be impressed upon it. It is nothing, an abstraction from reality; yet it is absolute necessity, and though not able to oppose the divine power, yet able to mar its works.