ex nihilo

[ eks nahy-uh-loh, nee-uh- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adverb

, Latin.

First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin ex nihilō, equivalent to ex + nihilō (ablative singular of nihil “nothing”); ex- ¹( def ), nil

From the principle ex nihilo nihil fit he concluded that nothing could pass from non-existence to existence.

In words he refers to creation ex nihilo, which is not necessarily Jewish, it might be just as well Mohammedan or Christian.

Hence the generally accepted principle, "ex nihilo nihil fit."

As a matter of fact the Mutakallimun believe that the atoms were created ex nihilo.

Moreover, eternal creation is not inconsistent with continued creation, and we have creation ex nihilo every moment.

April 23, 2024inveterate

[in-vet-er-it ]

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