Substratum - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Substratum: an elusive concept, simultaneously a foundation and an undercurrent, suggesting a reality deeper than the readily apparent, a hidden layer governing what we perceive, or perhaps, a myth we construct to explain the inexplicable. Does it represent objective reality, or merely the limits of our perception and understanding?
The earliest traceable seeds of the idea of a Substratum can be found in the pre-Socratic philosophers of ancient Greece, particularly in the writings of Thales (c. 624 – c. 546 BCE), who posited water as the fundamental substance underlying all of existence. His search for an arche, a principle from which everything originates, marks a pivotal moment. This fascination continued through the works of Heraclitus (c. 500 BCE), with his vision of ceaseless flux, and Parmenides (c. 475 BCE), who famously questioned the reliability of sensory experience in apprehending reality. These figures laid the foundational blocks for future philosophers, like Plato (428/427 or 424/423 – 348/347 BCE) and Aristotle (384–322 BCE), whose theories of Forms and substance offered structured frameworks for understanding the unchanging essence beneath the surface of the changing world. These concepts would continue to develop and contribute to fields like epistemology, metaphysics, and philosophy more broadly.
Over centuries, the notion of a Substratum has evolved, influencing diverse fields. In metaphysics, it became entwined with questions of being and essence, debated by scholastic philosophers such as Thomas Aquinas. In the empiricist tradition, John Locke explored how our experiences are built upon a simple, unknowable substance, while Immanuel Kant offered the transcendental argument that our knowledge is ordered by innate mental structures that transcend direct experience. These mental structures could be seen as the substrate by which we view the world. In contemporary culture, the concept echoes in science fiction narratives that explore alternate realities and hidden dimensions, often highlighting the limitation of human understanding and the potential for realities beyond our immediate grasp, prompting us to question the very nature of existence and our place within it, leading to profound existential crisis. It also influences discussions on moral philosophy, where we probe the basis of ethical values such as moral principle, fairness test, and justice theory.
The Substratum continues to fascinate and challenge us. It manifests today in complex models in physics attempting to reconcile quantum mechanics with general relativity, in psychological theories exploring the unconscious mind, and in discussions surrounding simulation theory. Does the ever-growing sophistication of AI herald a new era where the line between reality and manufactured experience blurs irretrievably and calls for us to confront ethics in AI, ethical obligations in AI, fairness bias, and more? As we push the boundaries of knowledge, the Substratum remains an enduring enigma, forever inviting us to ponder the unseen depths beneath the fabric of our perceived world and to grapple with challenging questions about our roles as moral agents within it: our moral agency.