Hylozoism is the doctrine that life and matter are inseparable. This
doctrine has been presented in several different forms. Straton, of
Lampsacus, claimed that molecules were each and all of them in
possession of life. The Stoics did not, however, accord life to each and
every distinct particle of matter, but held that the universe, as a
whole, was a being animated by a principle which gave to it motion, form
and life. This principle they called the soul of the universe. This idea
was advocated by the followers of Plotinus, who contended that this soul
of the world animated the smallest particle of matter. Spinoza asserted
that all things were alive in different degrees. Matter, according to
Leibnitz and Boscovish, and others, is always endowed with force.
Attraction and repulsion and chemical affinity, all indicate activity in
matter; but all this fails to meet the demands of science, for this
simple reason, life is a force always connected with organization, which
much of matter wants. Spontaneous motion, growth, nutrition, separation
of parts, and generation are phenomena which indicate the presence of
life; which most certainly is not co-extensive with matter. So
Hylozoism, ancient and modern, under whatever name you please to term
it, _breaks down_. Here, also, we discover that it is foolishness to
confound the terms _life_ and _force_.