hylism

hylicism, hylism

1. the materialist theories of the early Ionic philosophers. — hylicist, n.
2. the doctrines concerning the lowest of three Gnostic orders of mankind, the material or fleshly, unsavable as sons of the devil. Cf. pneumatism, psychism.
3. the theory that regards matter as the principle of evil, as in dualistic theology or philosophy. — hylic, adj.See also: Philosophy