Day 6: When Two Elements Become One

My whole world finally makes sense. The elements are more fully able to be what they are supposed to be when they blend. I know this language!

First, thank you! So many people have offered encouragement, ideas, and camaraderie this week. Spilling my rush of thoughts daily kept me going, and I am grateful that you took time to read and, for those who did, to respond.

Let me give you a summary of what I worked on now that I can.

I asked whether modern elements on the periodic table (i.e., atoms) are elements according to the classical definition of elements from Aristotle and Aquinas.

Classical Elements = CE (earth, water, air, fire)
Modern Elements = ME (periodic table)
Are MEs still CEs?

What are CEs according to Aristotle and Aquinas?

An element is that of which a thing is primarily composed, which is in that thing, and which is not divided by a form. This may be divided into three criteria:

1. An element is a prior body of prime matter and form that is the primary constituent material cause of blended bodies.

2. An element is immanent in the blended body it composes such that it persists through generation and corruption and is retrieva…