Quality (philosophy)

[2] Aristotle observed: "one and the selfsame substance, while retaining its identity, is yet capable of admitting contrary qualities.

This capacity is found nowhere else... it is the peculiar mark of substance that it should be capable of admitting contrary qualities; for it is by itself changing that it does so".

[4] John Locke presented a distinction between primary and secondary qualities in An Essay Concerning Human Understanding.

Weight is a secondary quality since, as a measurement of gravitational force, it varies depending on the distance to, and mass of, very massive objects like the Earth, as described by Newton's law.

In the context of relativity, the idea of mass quantifying an amount of matter requires caution.

(Note, however, that Aristotle drew a distinction between qualification and quantification; a thing's quality can vary in degree).

[6] Philosophy and common sense tend to see qualities as related either to subjective feelings or to objective facts.