What is the nature of the universe? Well, it is a collapsing wavefront of particles and antiparticles which results in the forward momentum of time.
Now that that is out of the way, let’s ask a more interesting question: what is human nature?
An awful lot as been written and spoken about human nature. The oldest and newest cultures all have inherently valid worldviews, and Westerners seem to have even more to say. Philosophy, psychology, sociology, anthropology and soap operas each have their two cents’ worth.
Religion has also played a part in shaping our Western views of self over the past few thousand years, with polytheism being subsumed by Ockham’s Razor and dualist monotheism taking the driver’s seat.
More recently, French, British and German philosophers have identified some core issues needing clarity: human as spiritual beings vs humans as moral beings, good vs evil, and what is ‘meaning’, anyway?
Nietzsche presented the idea that we are not merely here to be alive, to exist, but to grow, to thrive, and this is the nature of humanity. I would like to propose the mechanism for this idea.
David Attenborough presented Life on Earth in 1979, wherein he logically and methodically presented the evolution of life from a billion years ago to the present. The evidence indicates that self-replicating DNA forms all life on this planet and that DNA is the definition of life. (Here on this planet, at least…)
Over the decades, I have noticed that not just biological life, but other phenomena also has a will to power, as Nietzsche puts it: once something is put in motion such as a business or an intimate relationship, it must needs become stronger and to grow.
The similarities between biology and phenomenology strike me clearly.
All that does not advance the human condition is in retrograde.
– D. Rudhyar
Our desires to accumulate more, gain more wealth and power, to continue living, to dominate, to acquire more knowledge, and to flourish, are not evidence of some moral soul or a sign of goodness. Our characteristics are a consequence of our biology.
I hypothesise, based on observations, that our spiritual nature, our soul, lies within our ability to perceive and to be aware of our selves, each other, and of the universe.
Our biological drive to thrive is where our selves come from. The spark of consciousness which we are able to communicate with others about, our ability to be objective, is our future selves. We are more than just our biological selves.
Just as a quick test of this objective awareness: note what is around you such as tables, a breeze through the trees, aromas; now note what is moving through your body such as your breathing and your heart rate; next note what you are feeling physically and also emotionally; and now, note the various thoughts which flit through your mind.
What is that which is observing these phenomena?
A D R A N 