The universal form
People have been trying to find the ultimate Lego block that all the universe is made of. That search is still ongoing. However, there is a basic form that is used by atoms to galaxies, and it gives a good clue to why those entities can last so long.
Energy can give rise to matter in many forms, but how do those forms persevere without being in constant change to another form?
| # | Part | Purpose | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Core | Identity, qualities | Defines the basic characteristics of the form |
| 2 | Medium | Stability | Binds, or allows forces that bind the core to the shell, bringing stability |
| 3 | Shell | Protection, communication | Stops intrusion of disruptive or destructive elements, while allowing transfer of information for cooperation with other forms |
The core is what makes the entity an identifiable type, different from another that has a different core. In an atom, the core holds a number of protons, which then defines its charge, which specifies characteristics common to all of its relationships to other atoms. The shell, by what it doesn't allow, protects the entity, while what it allows provides communication channels for the entity to interact with other entities. The medium, which can just be empty space, either binds the core to the shell in itself, or facilitates forces to operate that do the binding.
It is this combination that allows the form to remain stable, despite the influence of outside forces and elements that may normally tend to destabilise the entity.
Even though the basic forms are simple, the complexity of the world comes about because of the plethora of different combinations of the forms. Contrast that with how people will often make complex building blocks, which then limits their flexibility and reusability. Perhaps we need to take a cue from the way the world is built, by thinking simple so that we have more options in the long run.
In a way, our thinking and emotions also fall into this structure, as we rely upon ideologies (like politics and religions) to buffer our personalities from the onslaught of the feelings and thoughts of others, and a lot of our thoughts and communications are framed in their terms. At some point, though, we may have to let some go, because, instead of protecting us, they 'hedge us in', so preventing us seeing all the opportunities for change that surround us.