But in Aristotle's exposition the current conceptions were hardened and made definite so as to produce a faulty analysis of the relation between the matter and the form of nature as disclosed in sense-awareness.

In this phrase the term 'matter' is not used in its scientific sense.
I will conclude by guarding myself against a misapprehension.

It is evident that the current doctrine of matter enshrines some fundamental law of nature.

Any simple illustration will exemplify what I mean.

For example, in a museum some specimen is locked securely in a glass case.
It stays there for years: it loses its colour, and perhaps falls to pieces.