minima naturalia theory

The minima naturalia theory is a philosophical concept that emerged from attempts to reconcile atomistic principles with Aristotelian ideas about the transformation of elements. This theory posits that each substance has its own specific smallest entities, or minima naturalia. Unlike atoms in strict atomism, these minima are not absolutely indivisible. Instead, they can be divided, but in doing so, they transform into the minima of a different substance.1

This concept was particularly developed by the Averroists, who viewed minima naturalia as physical entities that play a role in chemical and physical processes. This gave them more tangible reality, leading to further speculation about how the properties of these minima relate to the observable characteristics of substances.2