The argument, such as it is, is as substanceless as meringue.
c.1300, "essential nature," from Old French substance (12c.), from Latin substantia "being, essence, material," from substans, present participle of substare "stand firm, be under or present," from sub "up to, under" + stare "to stand," from PIE root *sta- "to stand" (see stet). A loan-translation of Greek hypostasis. Meaning "any kind of corporeal matter" is first attested mid-14c. Sense of "the matter of a study, discourse, etc." first recorded late 14c.
substance sub·stance (sŭb'stəns)
n.
That which has mass and occupies space; matter.
A material of a particular kind or constitution.