Russell (1961: 178, 179):
The form of a thing, we are told, is its essence and primary substance. Forms are substantial, although universals are not. … Not everything has matter; there are eternal things, and these have no matter, except those of them that are movable in space. Things increase in actuality by acquiring form; matter without form is only a potentiality. …
The doctrine of matter and form in Aristotle is connected with the distinction of potentiality and actuality. Bare matter is conceived as a potentiality of form.
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In Systemic Functional Linguistics, Aristotle's 'increase in actuality by acquiring form' corresponds to the process of instantiation, the translation of systemic potential into an actual instance. Aristotle's distinction of potentiality and actuality is the distinction of system and instance.
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