[D66] [JD: 15] TEOTL

[R.O.]

TEOTL


At the heart of Aztec metaphysics stands the onto-logical thesis that 
there exists just one thing: continually dynamic, vivifying, 
self-generating and self-regenerating sacred power, force, or energy. 
The Aztecs referred to this energy as teotl. Teotl is identical with 
real-ity per se and hence identical with everything that exists. What’s 
more, teotl is the basic stuff of reality. That which is real, in other 
words, is both identi-cal with teotl and consists of teotl. Aztec 
metaphysics thus holds that there exists numericallyonly one thing – 
energy – as well as only one kindof thing – energy. Reality consists of 
just one thing, teotl, and this one thing is metaphysi-cally 
homogeneous. Reality consists of just one kind of stuff: power or force. 
Taking a page from the metaphysical views of contemporary 
Mixtec-speaking Nuyootecos of the Mixteca Alta, we might think of teotl 
as something akin to electricity. Nuyootecos speak of a single, 
all-encompassing energy, yii, which they liken to electricity.2What’s 
more, the Aztecs regarded teotl as sacred. Although everywhere and in 
everything, teotl presents itself most dramatically – and is accordingly 
sensed most vibrantly by humans – in the vivifying potency of water, 
sexual activity, blood, heat, sunlight, jade, the singing of birds, and 
the iridescent blue-green plumage of the quetzal bird. As the single, 
all-encom-passing life force of the cosmos, teotl vivifies the cosmos 
and all its contents. Everything that happens does so through teotl’s 
perpetual energy-in-motion. Teotl is the continuing “life-flow of 
creation”:3“a vast ocean of impersonal cre-ative energy.”4

--p. 21 Aztec Philosophy

[...]

https://iep.utm.edu/aztec/#H2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teotl


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