Are we very clear as to what we term as life? I think, to begin with, we need to answer unequivocally, what is life?
What is it, but a process that consist of a set of procedures? Like a clockwork, each of these keep taking place, till it comes to a halt. That may happen due to internal forces or external ones, both caused by internal or external reasons.
Also, what is it, but a set of reactions? Where, we term some reactions, actions, when either those are far removed from the usual, or we are not able to link it instantly to something known.
At any time, we will be appreciating our life, or that of somebody else, as one of the two. Our convenience, or some other parameter of interest, being the prime determinant.
There is one more variable. Each one of us is living, at least two lives. One, the one like every other form of life. And two, the one like no other form of life.
In fact, things like the biological element of life, social living, or other transactions of the intellectual sphere that goes along with it, constitute the life that we share with all forms of life. All of which can boast of all the wherewithal necessary for the successful conduct of its life. Also, whatever takes place with all those forms can be linked to some element of life. And, all fashion its living style to be in agreement with whatever is its broad pattern that gets instituted in the current circumstances. Where, as far as humans go, this will be a modulated one that gels with the prevailing theory and practice in this regard.
In addition, we humans follow quite a few theories and practices that generally deal with topics that are beyond the essential aspects of life. However, these tend to become, rather indispensable features that override everything else. Further, these give rise to festivities, disagreements, and other matters that deviate from the normal, and constitute a distinct element of the human. (Pointing to these elements only, we rate ourselves superior to other forms of life. Isn’t it obvious that we incorporated all these in our lives, exactly for that purpose? Perhaps, spurred by an inferiority complex?)
How do we look at our life? See, appreciation of one’s life always takes a contextual path. When we take life as a process, or a set of reactions, and, when it is about the elements that are shared with all forms of life, or something exclusively human, we reach different spots. To compound this, all the forces that can act on any of the determinants of interest are subject to modulation, at any time and to whatever degree, based on the personal priorities of each. As it is with all that we do, our first act is make an account of all that we experience or infer. Naturally, at any instant, we will be having a rich collection of widely varying definitions or treatises about life.
The most significant effect of the above path is that we happen to be flooded with theories about life, each espousing one or a few of the facets. Whatever be one’s leaning, disposition, or other personal preferences in this regard, no one will feel at a loss. Each of those theories will be dealing with one or a few of the many and varied images, any moving observer shall encounter. We now see our life as in the proverbial instance of a few blind men assessing an elephant.
Now it is clear. As far as life go, we are missing both the forest and the trees. What we see, at best is some part of some trees. And, many definitions and ideas about life shall be floating around, each focusing on a few ‘trees’. Consequentially, the future of life is largely unpredictable, since, each definition of life can point to a different path, and a new end. At any time, predictions for the definition that is in vogue shall rule over all others.
I think, as mentioned earlier, many of the distinct features of our life originated out of an inferiority complex. At present, there is hardly any need for those, human race occupying an incomparable position, one beyond any form of threat. Since we are yet to realize this, we keep celebrating the unfathomable human, for no rhyme or reason. But, situation will change, and we will reach a better idea about life, when we start looking at our life from a different perspective.
If that so, life also may behave like entities that can be represented by, say, a mathematical equation. Where, we have a unique relationship between the LHS and the RHS, and we manipulate only one of it at a time. And, it will suffice, since, our needs, desires, or other feature of interest shall be reflected by the equation.
