Hylozoism is a philosophical concept that recognizes the animation of all bodies, nature, matter and the cosmos. This view completely removes any fundamental differences between inorganic and living.
It originated in the times of the Miletus school, in the VI century BC, but the concept was formed and entered into speech in 1678. He was introduced by the English philosopher Ralph Kedworth. And now, for such a considerable period of time, the topic has not lost its relevance.
History
Hylozoism is a teaching that dates back to ancient times. In ancient Greece, he was followed by the philosophers of the Ionian school. Thales, who was a famous mathematician and thinker of those times, believed that all things came from the water that endowed them with life and soul. And the universe was supposed to be filled with gods.
Anaximenes, the last representative of the Milesian school of natural philosophy, said that the source of life is another element - air. He called it the source of all things, the source of life and all known psychic phenomena. The philosopher called the soul "breath" of air.
The founder of the original form of dialectics, Heraclitus of Ephesus, also leaned toward hylozoism. But from his point of view, the world was fire, from which things, souls originate.
The ancient Greek priest, statesman, physician and philosopher Empedocles put forward the theory of spontaneous origin of vegetation and individual organs of animals, through which their new species were subsequently generated.
And Aristotle, the most famous student of Plato, substantiated the concept of unconscious and internal expediency of nature. With her “mind," he explained natural selection.
Turning to Stoicism
Hylozoism in philosophy is a multifaceted, differently considered concept. In stoicism, it also took place. No wonder, after all, this school, which arose around 300 BC. e., in the era of early Hellenism, was able to maintain its influence until the end of the ancient world.
So, the representatives of Stoicism believed that all matter is permeated by the divine soul. And this is precisely what makes our whole world a single living body, and space - a rational, reasonably organized being.
It was this idea that served as the prerequisite for the emergence of such a concept as “world soul”. By it is meant the single internal nature of the world, which has feelings, perceptions and aspirations.
Renaissance
Towards the beginning of the 14th century, hylozoism began to be used as an argument to justify the unity of people with their consciousness and nature.
The Italian pantheist philosopher Giordano Bruno said that the world soul as a spiritual substance and principle of life is in absolutely all things. She is what makes up their moving principle.
In general, all the concepts and ideas regarding hylozoism are an attempt to find answers to the question regarding the grounds and prerequisites for the formation of sensitivity in living creatures and consciousness, and reason in humans.
Benedict Spinoza, the Dutch rationalist philosopher, believed that thinking is an attribute of matter. That is, it is inherent in all nature without exception. The 18th-century French materialists, such as Pierre Jean-Georges Cabanis, Denis Didro, Jean-Baptiste Rene Robinet, agree with him.
Presentation Basics
Interestingly, hylozoism is a theory that opposes the search for a founded consciousness and psyche in a special substance (spiritual, supernatural, intangible).
But at the same time, she does not recognize the mechanistic notions of “dead”, inert matter. As well as vitalistic statements about the existence of a certain special life force, which determines the ability of living beings to feel, to experience sensations.
In fact, hylozoism is the basis for the formation of evolutionary ideas about the psyche and mind. This idea seems to set in motion everything inert, becoming the opposite of the mechanism that is characteristic of metaphysical materialism. And this, as you know, the doctrine of an immutable material substance.
What came before hylozoism?
In general, the first direction of philosophical thought is animism, a belief in the animation of all nature. Adherents of this view considered human thinking from the point of view of the psychology of the gods and mythology. It is not surprising, because in the days of Antiquity this was what was especially developed. Representatives of animism seriously considered the behavior and thinking of the gods, and studied their life.
So, in fact, this is the first mythological doctrine of the soul. This similarity determines the almost complete similarity of animism and hylozoism. Differences, however, are. The second doctrine of the above is logically different from an earlier form of presentation. For animism personified nature. In hylozoism this is not.
Panpsychism
Another concept that directly relates to the topic under consideration. It has a place in the history of psychology and panpsychism. Hylozoism, animism - all these concepts are interconnected. How? The answer lies in the definition.
Panpsychism is also an idea of ​​the animation of nature. Why such a name? Because it was based on the doctrine of psychic reality as the true essence of the world. This direction of philosophical thought suggested a naturalistic approach to solving all problems. Christian theology, a mechanistic worldview, Cartesian dualism - all of these were rejected.
That is the essence of naturalism - within the framework of this direction, only nature is the universal principle of explaining everything. And nothing else. The German philosopher Immanuel Kant expressed his opinion quite well. He said: naturalism is the derivation of everything that comes from the facts of nature.
Knowledge of the world
And again it is worth returning to the writings of Heraclitus. He not only described in detail the concepts of animism and hylozoism, but also identified several steps in the process of cognition of the world.
Heraclitus separated the activity of the mind from the senses and examined in detail the cognitive activity of man. He strove to prove that all our sensations give a slightly differentiated, "dark" knowledge. But mental activity is the path to a distinct, "bright."
The philosopher in no way contrasted the rational and the sensual. He agreed that both “components” harmoniously complement each other. But nevertheless he emphasized: knowledge cannot teach the mind.
In simple terms, the philosopher perceived the different sides of cognition as harmonious, mutually connected opposites that help to penetrate the very essence of the logos - universal law and reason, the foundation of the world, creating divine power.
By the way, Heraclitus was the first to notice how different the souls of children and adults are. The philosopher gave an incredibly accurate definition, the wording of which does not lose its relevance in many modern cases. He said: “The soul grows drier and hotter as it grows older. In children, it is wet - they think worse. Like the drunk, who stagger and do not notice where they are going. For their souls are wet. ”
Interesting words. It is amazing that they can be applied even now, despite the fact that they were said before our era.
Conclusion
The concept under consideration, as can be seen, is really of great interest. And you can talk about it for a long time, since one topic flows smoothly into another - this is one of the principles of philosophy. In many universities, within the framework of the subject, hylozoism is studied. These are MIT, Moscow State University, St. Petersburg State University, Russian State Humanitarian University, as well as other eminent universities of the country.
And the topic is important, still not losing relevance. If you believe the conclusions of modern neuropsychology, then the archaic roots of thought, which are the source of cosmic, occult and mythological views, are firmly fixed in the consciousness of modern man.
Subconsciously, many people perceive the real world as something emotional, lively and sensitive. However, if you think about it, it is. Nature is part of society. Which has been included in nature since ancient times. So, from a certain point of view, we really are part of a powerful and somewhat mysterious cycle of the elements.