My Theory of Relative Existence

Trying to understand the world is not an easy thing to do. Trying to come up with reasons for the things you do is even harder. Thinking about this, I realize that we have no solid reasons for why we do things, other than the obvious "to survive" and "because it feels good". I guess I should explain myself better.

Biologically, we know why we need things like food and love, and physically we know why we succumb to forces like gravity and momentum. What I am thinking of is how we interact with other people, other organisms and our environment. Why, for example, do we hold domesticated animals such as cats and dogs in higher esteem compared to wild animals like boars and wolves? Why do we feel the need to hold doors open for others or even be polite for that matter? Why do we swat insects but cringe at the idea of the mass culling of seals? Of course I am generalizing. I do not pretend to know exactly how every single human thinks, but I have confidence that I have the general idea.

It's like the game you might have played as a child. You would ask your parents a question and they would give you an answer. You then tack on the word "why" to their answer and the game continues until you're blue in the face or your parents lose their patience. I was trying to play this game, but I have chosen to stop at 1 or 2 whys. And now I am asking you to play the game with me. For anyone will notice that the answers we come to are not always the same.

So, when I played this game, I came up with something that scratched the surface of the first why. I like to call it my Theory of Relative Existence.

In my theory, all of our interactions occur between the Five Spheres of Existence. They are Mind, Human, Animal, Environment and Universe. There are probably an infinite number of spheres but I believe these five to be the most important. Everyday thoughts and actions all take place within these spheres, whether we realize it or not. Some people only recognize the existence of a few of these spheres but unknowingly act within all of them. These spheres are the basis for the justification of our actions and in turn, how we view the importance or relativity of these spheres will decide how we act in relation to anything in our world.

With an understanding of our place within each of these spheres, we can begin to peel back the layer of "why" that shrouds our lives. We must too understand that while our relationship with each sphere is of our choosing, there are factors that guide these choices. These factors can be hereditary, as in genes passing down traits from generation to generation. They are also found in our interactions with our parents and friends. Indeed, while our genes lay down a framework for how we will act and respond to the physical world, it is our interactions that will most heavily shape us. Furthermore, the application of science (deduction and reasoning) is necessary for developing and understanding our relationships with the spheres.

So let me take you into these spheres and try to explain my understanding of them.

First, we need a pivot. A central point for all the spheres to rotate around, and that is you. Essentially, the pivot is whoever is in control and at this time, it is you and I who are taking this journey. I would also like to explore the ideas of good and bad in the context of each sphere. So on we go!

The first of the five is the "Sphere of the Mind". As we are conscious beings, capable of thought and rationality, we must confront what makes us think. Different people have looked at various aspects of the mind in order to understand it (Jung, Freud) and modern science has allowed us a glimpse into the inner workings of our brains. Above all, we must appreciate the complexity of our mind and be aware that it can play tricks on us. The mind is where we can be alone to think and go over occurrences past, present and future. It is here where biological settings are hardwired into our brains from years of evolution and variation. Processes like "Fight or Flight" or "share or not share" can be found here and to truly understand why we do things, the mind is the most important sphere to decipher. Unfortunately, our brains are not yet fully understood and it would be foolish for me to try to explain what we do know. Here is where the ideas of good and bad share both biological and environmental foundations. Biological in the sense of evolution (eg: protect family, share food) and environmental in the sense of interactions with people (eg: greetings, etiquette). The mind is also where clashes occur between the two foundations; for example, the issue of sex. While our minds hold the stance that sex is good, normal and something that should be practiced, most societies regard sexual relations as a taboo and as something that should be kept in the shadows. An understanding of the mind is essential for realizing why we think in certain ways and in turn, why we interact with others the way we do.

Onto the next level, the Sphere of Human Interaction. This sphere contains any and all issues that arise when humans interact with each other. Love, work, school, sports, lifestyles, alcohol and drug use are just a few of what can be experienced. The position of women in society is another issue that is dealt with in this sphere, and since women were only recognized as "persons" in Canada around 1929, it is still a relevant topic today. In understanding this sphere, we must know that racism, sexism and any other bad "-isms" are judgmental actions and their reasoning unfounded. Equality and patience are needed here. A bit of advice courtesy of Jesus: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." He may not have been the first person to run with this idea, but he sure did his part to share it (putting aside the whole "Son of God" thing here). The issue of abortion also plays into this sphere. As the preservation of life (especially human life) is top priority for pretty much everyone, it is hard to come to a decision about abortion. Should the present life of the mother take precedence over the possible future life of the baby? Are grey areas (rape, incest) acceptable reasons for an abortion? My opinion is yes for both questions.  Good and Bad in the Human Sphere often follow empathy (identifying with the feelings and motives of another). How we relate to each other will alter our attitudes (and in turn societies') to certain ideas and practices. As we are the dominant species on this planet, and with no other life forms to "talk to" (yet), more people need to start rethinking the way they interact in this sphere. The shear amount of wars and violent disputes ought to suffice as evidence.

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