Born to Die, part seven

Process philosopher Alfred North Whitehead argues that dynamic reality is composed of nexuses of actual occasions. If my contention that humans are specific and unique embodiments of universal energy has merit, then Whitehead’s concept could be applied to defining what the human experience actually is: concentrated, focused, and most incredibly, sentient energy. The First Law of Thermodynamics discussed in yesterday’s post would allow that this energy preexists its human form just as it will remain after. “What is man that Thou art mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:4) becomes a much more profound question when asked in the context of eternal energy assuming—albeit temporally—human form. If nothing else, such regard for the human experience begs a genuine “why?” that ultimately leads to the issues of purpose and meaning. Maybe I am a fluke, an accidental manifestation of chaos that will disappear just as meaninglessly as I appeared, but such a view is not consistent with reality as we currently understand it. Martin Buber’s intuitive “I and Thou” comes closer (at least for me) to embracing the transcendent reality of the Creator—the Source—and clarifies how remarkably sacred human life really is.