Life is a delicate, interconnected process, not a single entity.
Tamil philosophy contrasts ‘Uruvam’ (உருவம் - form, sensory) and ‘Aruvam’ (அருவம் - formlessness, abstract).
Form :
- Physical objects (chair, body)
- Measurable things (temperature, weight)
- Concrete actions (walking, eating)
Formlessness :
- Abstract ideas (love, time, gravity)
- Emotions (happiness, fear)
- Thoughts, consciousness
Life manifests as form, yet its essence is elusive, suggesting formlessness. How do you personally see life?
Is it primarily form, a sensory-perceivable process defined by biological functions? Or is it more akin to formlessness, an abstract concept, a set of principles beyond physical form?
Is life, in your understanding, simultaneously ‘form and formlessness’?
Time and gravity are not abstract ideas, both are measurable like temperature and weight. One is a property of space-time itself, the other is one of the fundamental forces, very likely caused by a physical particle.
Life is simply a bunch of chemical reactions tied together in a way that allows us to think. There’s nothing beyond the physical form, even your very thoughts are tied to the chemical reactions in your brain.
If you want a proof, simply look at anyone who has had a dramatic shift in personality after a head trauma. If there was a “soul” (or whatever you want to call it), wouldn’t their personality remain the same?
You’ve made some valid points about measurability and the material basis of consciousness. I acknowledge your perspective. 🙂
