ABSTRACT
Does this chapter really matter? Well, yes, because, although we rarely give it a moment’s thought, we inhabit a world which would, quite literally, be nothing without matter! Our very being is attributable to the existence of substance. At all times of the day we are interacting with the material world and our understanding of it influences our actions. For instance, we know that our com - fort at the dinner table can be improved by placing a foam-filled cushion on the seat of a wooden chair. We question what a piece of food packaging is made of before deciding how we should dispose of it. When choosing perfume or aftershave, we know that the initial smell of the scent will change over time.
