Metaphysics ↔ the study of the nature, structure, and constitution of reality (being). It aims to advance our understanding of nature broadly.
- Metaphysical questions include:
- Nature of existence
- Space
- Time
- God
- Consciousness
- Causality
- Personal Identity
- Relationship of human beings with the world.
- Ontology ↔ A branch of Metaphysics that focuses narrowly on the nature of being, what things exist, and the kinds of existence they enjoy.
- Aztec Metaphysics ↔ consists of the Aztecs’ view of the nature, structure, and constitution of reality.
- Aztec Ontology ↔ consists of the Aztecs’ view concerning what exists and the kind of existence that existing things enjoy.
- The central ontological thesis of the Aztecs is that there exists only one thing; continually dynamic, vivifying, self-generating, self-regenerating sacred power/force/energy, known as, Teotl.
- Teotl ↔ is reality and everything that exists. As well as, the basic stuff of reality. Everything exists and consists of Teotl. Teotl is sacred. Teotl is nonpersonal, nonminded, nonagentive, and nonintentional.
- Teotl is the constant process of becoming and transformation.
- Aztec metaphysics in an ontological and constitutional monism. There is only one thing that creates all other things and is all other things.
- Teleological ↔ Kind of philosophical perspective that focuses on the purpose or end goal of things.
- Escataological ↔ Relating to or concerned with the end of the world or history.
- There are no beginnings and no endings only continuation, only transformation, only process.
- All that is real is Teotl and made of Teotl. All that is, is constantly becoming, moving, and changing.
- ‘Teotl is the happening of all things, the patterns in the happening of all things, and the co-relatedness between the happenings of all things. It vivifies all things and is essentially vivifying energy.’ – James Maffie
- Process Metaphysics ↔ School of thought in metaphysics that considers processes, rather than objects or substances, as fundamental to reality.
- Substance Metaphysics ↔ Branch of metaphysics that considers substances as fundamental and processes as secondary.
- Aztec philosophy is a teleological ecological holism. Nothing can be understood without understanding it’s relationships to all other things.
- Teotl generates and regenerates the cosmos from itself and thus all things are holy.
- Syllogism ↔ Logical reasoning structure that consists of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion derived from the premises.
- De Re ↔ Perception of the thing.
- De Dicto ↔ Perception under a description; perception of what is said or of the proposition.
- ‘Spinoza’s ontological and constitutional monism and in particular ‘two-aspect theory’ resonate with Aztec of metaphysics. Spinoza asserts that mind and matter are not two different kinds of substance but merely two aspects, facets, modes of a single substance, namely, God, who is neither.’ – James Maffie
- Neutral Monism ↔ Claims reality consists of just one kind of stuff that is neutral between mind and matter.
- Dual Aspect Monism↔Philosophical theory that posits that mind and body are two aspects of the same underlying reality.
- Tamoanchan ↔ The great swollen hollow tree and place of origin and cration. The tree contains two streams, one consisting of light, hot, and dry substance. The other of heavy, cold, and wet substance. The two streams twist around in a helicoidal fashion. When the gods violate divine order, the tree ruptures into two halves and the two substances flow like blood from the tree creating human time and the current cosmos.
- Helicoidal ↔ Geometric shape that resembles a spiral or helix, often characterized by a three-dimensional curve that winds around an axis.
- ‘According to the Popal Vuh, the gods gave the first four human beings the ability to see and thereby know everything. Yet the gods later realized this enabled humans to become gods, so they decided to weaken the visual and epistemological powers of humans.’ – James Maffie
Sources:
- Aztec Philosophy: Understanding a World in Motion by James Maffie