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BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
A busy day driving around for work and typing in a warm office. Another 'new word' for me.
Hylozoism is the doctrine that all matter is endowed with life. (182).
Cambridge states (paraphrased) that this is the view that all matter is by nature alive or that all bodies have some degree of life. (352). In modern times, hylozoism is connected to animism and is considered a naive view by many philosophers. (355). Cambridge writes that some theistic philosophers have claimed this is a form of atheism. (355)
To connect this doctrine with atheism supposes, in my view, reasoning along the lines that
if everything in existence in the universe, naturally is life, there is no need of a first cause or God to create.
To insist finite matter could have always existed is to fall prey to a vicious regress, which is a regress which never solves its own problem and is not reasonable, even as philosophers debate whether
a vicious regress can be logical or not. Premises can be logical, as can conclusions, without being necessarily true. I have come to the conclusion that a vicious regress can be logical, but is unreasonable.
For example, this god was caused by this god, this god was caused by this god, to infinity.
Logical, not contradictory, as a god without contradiction could be caused by another god, to infinity;
but not reasonable as each of these gods is finite and the finite has limited existence, not being eternal. What is reasonably required is an infinite, first cause, God, to begin, at least, a creation process. See Genesis 1, John 1 as examples within a biblical framework.
BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press
MOURELATOS, ALEXANDER, P.D. (1996) General Editor, Robert Audi, in The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
