But form cannot be understood in abstraction from esse , but rather, as a capacity for it. It might be objected that this is a much too negative view of matter. Quite the contrary. Matter does not disappear, but rather is seen in its true ontological location in regard to existence, and in this way it gains in richness. Essence and matter are not negative in a truly existential metaphysics, but they are totally transparent and subordinate to existence.
Essence is supremely positive inasmuch as it enables all of creation.
And matter is supremely positive because it enables the existence of a whole fascinating order of existents beyond spiritual creatures. The Ultimate Reducibility of Matter and Essence to Existence Carlo spoke of essence as a primal mode, or stage, of esse , and matter as a secondary stage, or limitation. But that should not mislead us into imagining that there are two separate processes going on. It is the one and the same act of existence that is contracted by essence and by matter, and there are not two contractions, but one. When the act of existence is contracted by an essence, which is below the threshold of spiritual creatures, then we have a concrete individual or material substance.