Atheistic stances place a larger number of phenomena into the “brute facts” category. Naturalistic philosophies have a few more ‘brute facts’ that many atheists feel need no further explanation. Such phenomena include: the link between efficient causes and their effects, the world’s apparent ability to ‘self-organize’, the validity of rational thought, the persistence of being despite change, etc. What needs explaining is not any particular fact; but rather, how they all work together harmoniously. Philosophical inquires look for common principles able to unite these disparate aspects of reality. I believe that panentheism gives a more ontologically complete picture of fundamental reality than its atheistic counterparts.
Panentheism means “within God”. As such the sensible world sits within a larger reality or God. In concept, this view is similar to Plotinus’s wherein the “All” corresponds with God and the “Many” corresponds with sensible reality. By applying reason to sensible reality anyone can deduce two fundamental principles of reality, discernable in thought, but not in actuality: primal matter and informing principle. Primal matter refers to that of which all things are made and which has the potential to be anything that could possibly be. The informing principle supplies primal matter with essential natures and lawfully constrains its potency. Together these provide a framework for uniting the disparate 'brute facts."
I have discussed both these principles at length elsewhere, but hope that the additional context will yield a more fruitful conversation.
Panentheism means “within God”. As such the sensible world sits within a larger reality or God. In concept, this view is similar to Plotinus’s wherein the “All” corresponds with God and the “Many” corresponds with sensible reality. By applying reason to sensible reality anyone can deduce two fundamental principles of reality, discernable in thought, but not in actuality: primal matter and informing principle. Primal matter refers to that of which all things are made and which has the potential to be anything that could possibly be. The informing principle supplies primal matter with essential natures and lawfully constrains its potency. Together these provide a framework for uniting the disparate 'brute facts."
I have discussed both these principles at length elsewhere, but hope that the additional context will yield a more fruitful conversation.
