I use several assumptions concerning the nature and perception of reality:
1] Reality is solely and completely a subjective experience for each
individual-whatever the 'outsideness' of our experiences may be, we only
perceive those experiences internally,'inside' our minds and bodies.
2]Common or consensus reality is an agreement amongst and between ourselves
as to what is real and what is unreal.
3]The essential nature of the phenomena which underly our perceptions of
reality is itself unknowable -we know only our perceptions.
4]The whole edifice of science, reason and logic is based on our ability to
construct conceptual frameworks and then to live comfortably in those
edifices, even though the whole structure is suspended in the void.
5]The three primary divisions of human reality are spirit, mind and
energy/matter. Mind co-ordinates the diverse realms of spirit and
energy/matter. By definition, neither mind nor spirit can be quantified,
which in no way makes them any less 'real' than matter. Spiritual levels of
reality are the source of the values that are used by mind to create moral
and ethical systems.
6]Pattern is non-material, and the patterns that configure our perceivable
reality do not necessarily exist in that reality. Life Force is such a
pattern: a meta-reality that configures other aspects of reality.
While our morals and ethics are insubstantial, non-material and unknowable
in a strictly scientific sense, try to imagine how human society could
survive without them. These ephemeral aspects of our nature actually form
the foundation on which our civilization is built.
So it is with the concept of "Life Force": we perceive the difference
between that which is living and that which is dead. Without the
mysterious, unkowable phenomenon which we call "LIfe Force", we would not be
having this discussion and this planet would be a frozen rock whirling in
space. Yet we cannot measure, weigh, touch, smell, taste, hear or see this
aspect of reality. But how can we deny that life exists?
Perhaps in the near future it will be possible to measure the energetic
activity of living organisms using a mechanical device. Will that make the
life force any more real than it already is, or tell us where that life
force orginates, what its essential nature is and what is the meaning of life?
The material aspect of this message is a pattern of dots created by
electrons on a glass tube. The meaning of my message is not in the dots,
the electrons or the glass. Yet you are able to understand me, and even
reply to my thoughts. Think about it: what is most significant to you in
this scenario-the dots, the electrons, the glass or the meaning of the
message?