by Marinus Jan Marijs
Some philosophical systems postulate different levels of existence. These levels are supposed to exist of different (subtle) energies. This is called Hylic pluralism, multiple materiality.
“The philosopher J. J. Poortman formulated the idea of a hylic pluralism of the plurality of matter, a model of the universe in which science and metaphysics are no longer contradictory. This vision was explained in his four volume work, Vehicles of Consciousness.”
The stoics believed that the whole world was penetrated by a subtle material they called pneuma. The human soul according to them was build out of this pneuma.
The idea is that the supersensory worlds exist of different kinds of matter that deviates from physical matter, but can be called substance, and is extended in space, so they are spatial. The soul is compounded out of this subtle matter. The difference between the subtle matter of this worlds and the soul, is that the soul which is compounded out of this subtle matter (which is visible as the aura) is very highly activated, developed and evolved. The same is the case with the spirit which is compounded out of a still subtler kind of matter. These energies are invisible for the physical eye. There are several of these levels of existence, that all exist of a different subtle substance. Only the Absolute is without substance, the Absolute transcends space and time.
