The problem of the soul

[Spongebob]

Solid, liquid, gas, and plasma are the states of MATTER.

It's still matter regardless of which state it is in.

What I think is tripping you up, Winter, is that plasma states can break down the atomic structure. Hydrogen plasma is almost like a soup of free electrons and protons. But it is still (by definition) matter.

What prevents me from agreeing that plasma is actually "matter" is that it is not a long lasting state of matter, look here:

https://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews...matter.cfm

But what about plasma? It’s the most abundant state of matter in the universe, but plasma can’t exist for long under normal terrestrial conditions.

Essentially that's what I meant by "transitional" state: Plasma is a temporary state that superheated matter goes through: that's not "matter" -even if science said so today- but rather a "transitional state into something we didn't yet discover".

The question I would ask myself is this: what happens to matter after turning to plasma? what's the next state?

Plasma isn't so different from other states of matter, just ions.  It's properties can be measured like anything else.  And matter can go from gas to plasma very easily with the application & removal of the appropriate amount of energy.  Think an electrical switch.  Have you ever seen a neon sign?  That's plasma.