Matter’s inherent spontaneity made activity primary in nature

Evidence

The activity within each particle of matter meant that activity and process were primary in the order of things. Within the matter of the world, there existed an inherent spontaneity, and within each individual being an inner-directedness determined its destiny. — Carolyn Merchant, The Death of Nature, 525

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Von Helmont’s archeus clothed itself in matter as an inward generative workman — Carolyn Merchant, The Death of Nature: Women, Ecology,…, 522; Substance and matter are not synonymous terms — Jeremy Bentham, The Panopticon Writings, 443; Plasticity unifies spontaneity and receptivity in an evolving structure — Catherine Malabou, The Future of Hegel: Plasticity,…, 1251 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Spontaneity necessarily temporalizes itself or becomes fixed as in-itself being #expands (0.85)
• Substance and matter are not synonymous terms #expands (0.82) — Jeremy Bentham, The Panopticon Writings, 443
• Plasticity unifies spontaneity and receptivity in an evolving structure #complicates (0.75) — Catherine Malabou, The Future of Hegel, 1251