Hylopathism, in philosophy, is the belief that some or all matter is sentient or that properties of matter in general give rise to subjective experience. It is opposed to the assertion that consciousness results exclusively from properties of specific types of matter, e.g. brain tissue. ==Etymology and specific definition== The term is relatively ...
belief in ability of matter to affect the spiritual world
• (n.) The doctrine that matter is sentient.
Hy·lop'a·thism noun [ Greek ... matter + ..., ..., to suffer.] The doctrine that matter is sentient. Krauth-Fleming. 
hylopathy, hylopathism The obsolete doctrine that disease is due to changes in the constitution of matter.