Friday, October 05, 2007
The Ultimate Question
(2)
I love the idea that we are composed of elements, which elements were created many years ago in the bowels of ancient stars. I love it that we now know (stomp) our 'composition.' We are a complex mess, element-wise. But we are much, much more.
Elements explain the surface (much stomping or wall-banging above) of our Humanity very well: we are composed of Hydrogen, Carbon, Calcium, Iron... And I could go on and on. Elements explain our 'materiality.'
We are what we are, physically (stomp). But what are we 'mentally?' Can the interaction of elements become so complex as to result in a new order of reality? A higher order? Consciousness? Obviously. This is astonishing but unavoidable: We are beings composed of elemental stuff, but our internal experience demands that complex chemical interactions - such as we understand them - produces... us. We would not be here otherwise. We understand how Nature produces our bodies. It's very clear. But How does Nature produce US? That is the mystery.
Many hints convince us that 'who we are' depends on how well our brains perform. We are our brains. Our brains manufacture us. We are the product of our brains. But our brains are composed of the above elements. Therefore we are ultimately elemental but somehow transcendent. How is that possible?
More important, does our 'transcendence' equal immortality?
The answer is, 'No.' Or, 'Yes.'
(Depending on what you mean. What do you mean by 'immortality?' Furthermore, is it really a good idea to be 'immortal?')
I love the idea that we are composed of elements, which elements were created many years ago in the bowels of ancient stars. I love it that we now know (stomp) our 'composition.' We are a complex mess, element-wise. But we are much, much more.
Elements explain the surface (much stomping or wall-banging above) of our Humanity very well: we are composed of Hydrogen, Carbon, Calcium, Iron... And I could go on and on. Elements explain our 'materiality.'
We are what we are, physically (stomp). But what are we 'mentally?' Can the interaction of elements become so complex as to result in a new order of reality? A higher order? Consciousness? Obviously. This is astonishing but unavoidable: We are beings composed of elemental stuff, but our internal experience demands that complex chemical interactions - such as we understand them - produces... us. We would not be here otherwise. We understand how Nature produces our bodies. It's very clear. But How does Nature produce US? That is the mystery.
Many hints convince us that 'who we are' depends on how well our brains perform. We are our brains. Our brains manufacture us. We are the product of our brains. But our brains are composed of the above elements. Therefore we are ultimately elemental but somehow transcendent. How is that possible?
More important, does our 'transcendence' equal immortality?
The answer is, 'No.' Or, 'Yes.'
(Depending on what you mean. What do you mean by 'immortality?' Furthermore, is it really a good idea to be 'immortal?')
