He dismisses the idea that matter can be substance, for if we eliminate everything that is a property from what can

have the
property, such as matter and the shape, we are left with something that has no properties at all. Such 'ultimate matter' cannot be
substance. Separability and 'this-ness' are fundamental to our concept of substance.[9]

Aristotle then describes own theory, that essence is the criterion of substantiality.[h] The essence of something is what is included in
a secundum se ('according to itself') account of a thing, i.e. which tells what a thing is by its very nature. You are not musical by your
very nature. But you are a human by your very nature. Your essence is what is mentioned in the definition of you.

Aristotle then considers, and dismisses, the idea that substance is the universal or the genus, criticizing the Platonic theory of Ideas.
[i][clarification needed]

Aristotle argues that if genus and species are individual things, then different species of the same genus contain the genus as
individual thing, which leads to absurdities. Moreover, individuals are incapable of definition.