Matter and Form in the Science of Kabbalah
On the whole, science subdivides into two parts: the first is called the knowledge of matter, the second—the knowledge of a form. This means that there is nothing in the surrounding reality, in which matter and form could not be discerned. For example, let us take a table. It consists of matter, say, wood, and possesses a form of a table. Matter (wood) happens to be a carrier of a form (a table). The same is with the word “liar”: its matter is a man, and its form is “liar,” so that the matter called man bears the form of falsehood.
This perception has defined the division of the sciences which study reality into two parts: the study of matter, and the study of form. The part of science that deals with qualities of matter existing in reality (both pure matter without its form, and also matter together with its form) studies matter. This research is empirical in its nature, i.e. it is based on the proofs and results of practical experiments. Science takes these experiments as a reliable basis for its conclusions.
The other part of science studies only the abstract form, which is disconnected from matter. In other words the forms “truth” and “falsehood” are abstracts from matter, i.e. people, who are their carriers. One looks only at the significance or non-significance in the forms themselves of “truth” and “falsehood,” as they in their pure state; as they had not yet clothed in any matter. This is called figurative learning.
Such research does not have the empirical basis because the abstract forms do not find their expression in practice confirmed by experiments, and they exist outside the reality. Such an abstract form is only taken from the fruit of one's imagination. Meaning, only the imagination can render it, despite it not actually exist in reality.
And thus, the foundation of all scientific study of this kind is purely theoretical. Meaning, it is not based on the proofs and results of practical experiments, rather only conclusions reached through theoretical study. The entire study of Philosophy is of this type. And thus, a large portion of modern scholars left its study, as they are unsatisfied with the conclusions based on a theoretical foundation. Their opinion is that it is an uncertain foundation, because only the experimental foundation is certain, as known.
The science of Kabbalah too is divided into these parts, which are the study of matter and the study of form. But there is a great wonder here. A great advantage here over the secular science because here even the study of form is built entirely on critique of practical reason, meaning, based on practical experimentation.