What am I dependent on?

What am I dependent on? It is easiest for me to begin my examination in this physical world. I am dependent on oxygen to breathe. I am dependent on food. I am dependent on sleep.

What am I dependent on? That depends on what I am seeking. If my goal is to stay alive, there are things in the physical world that I am dependent on – air, water, nutrients.

I am dependent on intaking substance and excreting substance. I am dependent on my skin, the boundary that separates my inside from outside, separates me from the rest. I can divide what I am dependent on into categories. One way of dividing (categorizing, differentiating) things that I am dependent on – things/resources/elements that are inside my body and those which are outside my body. These may be further categorized into physical and spiritual needs. The physical needs are perhaps easier for most people to identify as essential, as things that I am dependent on to survive.

For physical survival, I am dependent on a level of “healthy” function – input, processing, and output of air, water, and nutrients. The extent to which these processes (input, processing, and output) are carried out, can vary along a scale from completely dysfunctional to completely functional, in other words, complete disorder to complete order.

My body is dependent on an amount of order in order to survive. If the body’s functions (comprised of the processes input, processing, and output event(s)) exist in a state of order (function at a level reflective of a specific amount of order) between complete order and a defined minimum amount of order necessary for survival, the body will survive. The minimal order needed for each function in the body may be dependent on the functional state (level of function reflective of the state of order) of the other functions of the body. It is possible that for a particular function, if the functional state of the process “input” is lowered, the minimal functional state of “processing” and “output” will be raised in order to compensate.

What is input? The spatial displacement of things to a site of processing.

What is processing? The transfer of energy from one thing to another – this can be observed as change. Types of observable change are the transfer of matter from one thing to another (for example, the transfer of atoms and functional groups between molecules).

A thing’s measurable energy can be derived from the physical composition of the thing in space, such as the order of atoms and the essence of the connections between them, the distance between the object and every other object (in other words, every other particle of matter in the universe), the position of the object in relation to the center of the earth, the position of the object in relation to each star and planet, the position of the object in relation to the beginning of space-time.  What is the significance of an orbit?

What is output? The spatial displacement of things from a site of processing.

Input and output are relative. An input of a thing for a human may be an output of a thing for a plant; an output of a thing for human may be an input of a thing for bacteria. Input, processing, and output are not exclusive to living things – these also describe the fundamental function of one atom moving to or from and interacting with another atom. Processing is the creation and destruction of connections between things. A change in a connection between things is a change in energy, both measurable and unmeasurable – no two particles of matter are in the same position in space-time, therefore no two particles of matter have an identical essence (comprising both measurable and unmeasurable quantities).

The overarching goal of being a Jew is to save the world. To bring this world to its ideal state, its perfect state. It is not only to improve conditions for the nation of Israel, but rather for the entire world. This is important to remember as an overarching guiding principle and intention when creating action throughout each day. Derekh Eretz Kadma l’Torah. Derekh Eretz perfectly precedes and supplements the Torah. This point emphasizes the overarching goal of saving the entire world. Not every person in required to fulfill the commandments of the Torah, though every person is arguably required to act with Derekh Eretz. Derekh Eretz and the Torah have an essential symbiotic relationship, each requiring the other to be implemented perfectly into the world.

The description of Derekh Eretz, literally “the way of the land”, is delineated in Jewish law and philosophical texts. A gross oversimplification of the term relates to concepts that every person, Jew and non-Jew, are required to implement in their lives in order to achieve perfect natural harmony and balance with themselves and with the world at large. Concepts comprising Derekh Eretz include an elaboration on what constitutes decent, polite, respectful, thoughtful, and civilized behavior, the appropriate work-life balance, and the importance of understanding the natural world, culture, and society.

The way to implement Derekh Eretz in one’s life is dependent on the time period one is living in, on the spiritual state of the world, on the level of order within the world. The state of the world changes throughout time. For example, “new” and different things, such as inventions and technology, exist at different periods of time. As a result, the details of how one implements the principle of Derekh Eretz at a certain point in time may differ from other points in time. The more “new” things in the world (the more different boundaries), the more correct ways exist for utilizing things with Derekh Eretz.

Each new thing comprises a unique essence, and as such, when one uses a thing, one’s action is influenced by the use in a way that is only possible when the thing is in existence. There were no computers 500 years ago, therefore no one’s actions 500 years ago were influenced by the computer.

One may use a thing in a positive or negative way, in a beneficial or detrimental way. The benefit or detriment, resulting from the way a thing is used, influences s/he who used it and all aspects of the world at large.  The positive or correct way to use a thing relates to the function enabled by the thing (the way one utilizes the thing to conduct an action for a desired outcome) and the amount of time invested in its use. There is a correct way to use all things, or on a larger scale, a correct way to interact with all particles of matter, as well as an appropriate balance between the amount of time I use the thing and the amount of time I am not using the thing. If one were to use a computer 24 hours without stopping, this would likely be detrimental to oneself and others. If one used a computer to watch pornography for 24 hours straight, this would further increase the likelihood that this use would be detrimental to oneself and others. The time I invest in acting in a certain way, by using something, for example, I am not able to invest in something else. This means that if one has used a period of time in a detrimental way, the potential positive influence embedded in that time period has been lost. This potential positive influence comprises both a positive influence on myself and others (internal and external influence). The way that one uses a new thing properly, in other words, the actions one must take to be consistent with Derekh Eretz, may change depending on the point in time that the use is being conducted.

Everything physical is also spiritual. Everything physical can be used in the correct way, in the way it was intended to be used by the Creator. There is a correct way for all people of all nations to use something – through implementing the principles of Derekh Eretz into one’s use of the thing, one’s intentions and actions – though the details may differ among nations, the principles at the root of Derekh Eretz are universal. However, in addition to Derekh Eretz, the nation of Israel is also required to implement the commandments of the Torah. Without the Torah, Derekh Eretz would not exist.

Things can be spiritual or physical and spiritual (for convenience I will refer to things that are both physical and spiritual as “physical”, though it is important to remember that all things physical have a spiritual component). A thing is a “separate” object. Something that is separate is composed of fundamental building blocks arranged in a specific order, each building block interacting with every other building block in a specific way. All separate things have internal connections – these are the connections between the fundamental building blocks that comprise a separate thing. The essences of the connections between fundamental building blocks that comprise a thing, let’s say “Thing A”, are expressed in characteristics of Thing A. All things (in other words separate objects or functional units) in existence have internal and external connections. For example, external connections are the connections that exist between Thing A and things outside of Thing A. The essences comprised in a thing’s internal connections and external connections are necessarily different from one another. The difference between internal and external connections enables a thing to be a separate thing. The sum total of all the connections between the fundamental building blocks (for example, particles of matter) of a thing and a thing’s external connections is a derivative of a thing’s functionality. The functionality of a thing may be considered an expression of the essence of a thing, may be measurable or unmeasurable, and may be an indication of a thing’s spiritual state, its true state. As described above, the spiritual state can be described in units of order.

Functionality is only relative!

The function of something only exists in relation to another thing. For example, a function of a banana in relation to the animal is to provide it with nutrients. The functionality of anything is for it be input, processed, and output. The relationship between one thing and another thing necessarily influences an increase or decrease in the state of order of both things.

Remember, everything in this world is constantly being pushed in a direction of disorder. The interaction between one thing and another thing, for example, between a human and a banana, causes the human to have increased or decreased functionality, in other words, to exist in a state of increased or decreased order. The amount and type of interaction that a human has with a banana in space and time determine the influence this interaction has on the human and on the banana.

In order for our consciousness to grasp the ideal level of understanding of the world, we need to examine functionality and interaction as they relate to humans. Therefore, we will look at the influence caused by specific types and amounts of interaction between banana and human on the human.

The origin of the human exists in the perfect state. Over time, the state of the human moves towards disorder if no other interactions work to move the state of a human towards its state of complete order. If the human is born and does nothing over time, it will die. Death ends the functional existence of the human physicality in the world. No other interactions that are a direct result of a human’s physicality may be created following the death of a human.

If a human is born and does nothing, the functionality of the human moves towards disorder until death. If the human interacts with a specific amount of a separate object, a banana for example, in a specific way, this interaction (connection) will influence the functional state of the human. If a human eats 100 grams of a banana, this interaction may result in an increase in the functional state, the degree of order, existing in the human. If a human eats 1000 kilograms of banana over a specific amount of time, the consequence of this interaction may vary. If a human eats 1000 kilograms of banana in 1 minute, the human’s functional state will decrease to a state of disorder until death. If a human eats 1000 kilograms of banana over 10 years, this will not necessarily result in death or disorder. If a human breathes in 100 grams of banana, this may result in a decrease in the functional state of the human until death. If a human puts 100 grams of banana on its eyes, this may decrease its eye’s functional state, and thus may decrease the human’s overall functional state. If a human puts 100 grams of banana in its ears, this may decrease the functional state of its ears, and thus may decrease the human’s overall functional state. If a human puts 100 grams of banana on its face skin, it may decrease the functional state of the human’s face skin, thus may decrease  the human’s overall functional state, however, alternatively, it may increase the functional state of the human’s face skin, dependent on the functional state of the human’s face skin prior to application.

The functional state of a human functional unit interacting with a banana, as well as the functional state (comprising the composition) of the banana (the sum total of fundamental building blocks and internal connections between those building blocks), determine the essence of the influence the banana will have on the functional state of the human functional unit, and vice versa, the essence of the influence the human functional unit will have on the functional state of the banana. If a banana more densely comprises nutrients than the average banana, 100 grams of this banana will influence the human that ate it with a different essence (likely a greater magnitude) than the average banana. If, unlike the average human, a human comprises an allergy to bananas, 100 grams of banana will influence this human that ate it with a different essence compared to the average human. The influence the allergic human has on the banana it ate may also differ from the average human.

Homeostasis is nature’s mechanism to return a body to a state of proper balance. The body acts in certain ways in response to stimuli, processing those stimuli in the appropriate way, and ultimately working to return the body to its perfect “resting” state. The state homeostasis works to reestablish may be seen as the body’s ideal state, one that considers the sum total of internal and external interactions existing with the body at a point in time. If a body was examined in a theoretical vacuum, completely isolated from external change, this body would approach functioning at its ideal state at a particular moment in time. At a body’s idea state, the body works to spatially displace components (functional units), to interact with components, to process components, to change components – these actions carried out in the perfect way to maintain the bodies ideal state. This can be seen as harmony – the sum of all movement in a body isolated from external change (in a vacuum), that is perfect, in time.

In reality, the body is not isolated from external change. There is a world outside the body that constantly influences the world inside the body. Is there a separate homeostasis system for every functional unit? If every functional unit has an inherent function, ideally functioning at an inherent ideal state where its functionality is maximal, is there a separate homeostasis system for each functional unit that works to restore the ideal level of functionality inherent to the functional unit?

Let’s start with the body frozen in time at a theoretical ideal state where all of the body’s function units (for example, atoms, cells, organs, or organ systems – these may all be defined as separate functional units at different scales) are operating at maximal functionality, thus the entire, relatively macro functional unit called “a body” is operating at its ideal state, its maximal level of functionality. Let’s assume that there is a perfect way to separate and define the different and separate functions of the body at different scales (from atom to body, for example) from the human perspective. Each perfectly defined separate function comprises physical components perfectly necessary for carrying out the function – the one or more particles of matter necessary to carry out a separate function. This one or more physical components necessary to carry out a separate function may be considered a “functional unit”. The function associated with the functional unit is inherent to the unit, and is the purpose for the unit’s existence.

Every particle of matter has a purpose. Every moment in time has a purpose.

Each function can be defined using language and statements that describe a series of input, processing, and output events that the separate function is intended to carry out. At a functional unit’s ideal level of functionality (ideal state), their theoretically exists a measurable quantity of statements (total input, processing, and output events) that completely describe the function at a point in time, or over a range of time. The rate of function (number of completed statements/time) at the ideal state is a theoretically measurable quantity, inherent to the ideal state, of a functional unit for the calculated point or range of time.

It is possible that the total conditions of the world change with time, thus the ideal state (an its corresponding rate of function) may numerically differ according to the point in time for which it was calculated. An ideal state with a rate of function that varies with time may be called a variable ideal state. It is possible that other functional units may have an ideal state with rate of function that is constant over time, or constant for a particular period.

A functional unit can be described using statements that describe a process (for example, comprising a reaction, a combination of one or more input, processing, and/or output events). The process may describe the creation or destruction of connections (interactions) between fundamental building blocks, these connections having either analog or digital behavior, and resulting in analog and/or digital consequences. One statement comprised in the definition of a particular functional unit may be “attach oxygen atom to carbon atom”. Given this statement, any attachment of an oxygen atom to a carbon atom would be considered a successful completion of the statement. The chemical bonds between the oxygen and carbon atoms have a specific measurable strength (digitally quantifiable), although the success of the statement is analog (either the attachment is made, or it is not made). In this case, the strength of the connection does not significantly influence the result of the function, as long as the connection between oxygen and carbon is considered “attached”.

When the body is in its ideal state, the rate of function of every functional unit comprised in the body is equivalent to its respective rate of function at the ideal state. In the perfect world, our bodies would be at their ideal state constantly.

If there were no humans, the world would be allowed to return to a theoretical humanless ideal state. The world and all the life and elements its contains would approach harmony. The individual animals or elements in themselves do not upset the balance of harmony. Although their respective behaviors may vary overtime, the world is not prevented from approaching its ideal state due to the direct actions of these elements.

Human, on the other hand, are capable of distancing the world from its ideal state. Humans have free will to choose actions that bring the world closer to harmony, order, peace, unity – the world’s ideal state – or to choose actions that distance the world from its ideal state – expressed by imbalance, chaos, and divisiveness.

The purpose is the ideal state.

Hedonism is imbalanced. Hedonism may be described as structuring one’s time in order to maximize the sensation of pleasure one feels over a period of time. Modern society as a whole has become increasingly obsessed with maximizing the pleasure the individual experiences throughout their life. Increasing one’s comfort and pleasure has become the primary purpose of the average person in today’s world. This is not the true purpose of the world, and as a result, those whose actions are primarily driven by the intention to increase comfort and pleasure will never be satisfied by their achievements.

The true purpose of the world is perfect balance, both at the level of the individual, and at the level of humanity as a one body. The purpose of each person is to make decisions driven by the perfect balance of selfishness and selflessness. The purpose of each person is to make the world a “better” place for themselves and a “better” place for the rest of the world.

What is better? More love and more peace. More love for myself and for the rest of the world. More peace within myself and between me and the rest of the world.

The specifics of how this is accomplished varies with each action one makes. This is the true purpose of the conscience, to weigh out the possible ways to act in response to the present (the situation that is in front of me) in a way that inherently contains the appropriate balance between selfish and selfless intention that is necessary for me to do what is best for myself and for the world (these are the same thing). What is best for me is what is best for the world. Maintaining the appropriate balance of selfish and selfless intention when I act, when I move in this world, is best for me and best for the world.

To harness the maximum positive potential of the conscience, I must make maintaining the appropriate balance of selfish and selfless intention a priority when I make decisions and act. So what is the appropriate balance of selfish and selfless behavior? This is the work given to all of us, the purpose of our intellect.

There exists the potential to act with a perfect balance of selfish and selfless intention with each action we make. There exists an absolute perfect balance of selfish and selfless intention corresponding to each action we can make. In order to act in a way that perfectly aligns with this balance, we must learn the rules of the game, we must work to learn the true instruction manual to life. When I learn more and more about the way this world operates, more about the fundamental building blocks that interact with one another, when I learn the true details of the inherent human experience, of the power and influence embedded in each action I make, when I learn about the purpose of this world, I gain a better understanding of the best way for me to act in each situation.

When I better understand the purpose of the world, the overarching principle that all my actions can either contribute to order or disorder, I can approach my ideal state. An action that increases order is driven by the correct intention. An action at a certain point in time that produces the maximum possible order is the perfect action, the ideal action, the creator’s will. An intention is composed of one or more driving forces. Driving forces have the potential to either increase or decrease world order. Good intentions increase world order. Good intentions have the potential to increase the level of functionality of a functional unit.

The largest functional unit is the world. Good intentions have the potential to increase the functionality of the world – have the potential to bring the world to its “healthiest” state – its ideal state. Good intentions have the potential to increase the functionality of the smallest functional unit, and thus all functional units that comprise the smallest functional unit.

Intentions are comprised of one or more driving forces. Driving forces can be good or bad, positive or negative, contribute to order or disorder. The measurable magnitude of positivity or negativity of a driving force can be quantified. If all the driving forces comprising an intention are added together, the intention can be determined to be overall positive, relatively neutral, or negative. The greater the intention is positive, the more potential it contains to increase world order.

Matter can be used with intention to create an action, to create change. Matter is combined into separate objects that may contain one or more functional units. An invention, considered a separate object, has a function. There are no inventions that have been invented without a purpose. Inventions are “novel” compositions of matter that comprise one or more functional units. There are consequences that stem from invention that is invented and brought into this world. Inventions have the potential to change the world.

There are inventions that are “created” by humans. At the time that an invention is created, its respective human inventor comprised one or more intentions driving the creation of the invention. For example, the inventor wanted to “make life easier”, to make a human process more efficient (requiring less work and/or time per desired outcome) or more effective (producing a desired outcome of a greater magnitude per amount of work and/or time). This may be accomplished by utilizing one or more inherent aspects of the world to produce stimuli (separate something with the potential to influence). All inventions have a purpose, to produce change, to emit waves over time.

All matter behaving as a particle or a wave has an influence on its surroundings. All matter in space time exhibits wavelike behavior. A particular arrangement of matter in space time, considered a separate object due to differentiable internal and external connections, produces waves with different characteristics compared with a non-identical object in space time. A first separate object is identical to a second separate object unless it comprises one or more non-identical internal or external connections between fundamental units when compared to the second separate object.

All movement, all change, produces waves. All particles of matter comprise movement of fundamental building blocks over time. For example, despite the existence of a theoretical absolute zero (the temperature at which no heat energy remains in a particle of matter, the temperature at which movement that may described by classical mechanics stops), movement of matter that may be described by quantum mechanics persists at this temperature.

An invention allows humans to receive or transfer specific stimuli (in other words, waves) of a specific frequency over time. Humans make actions that produce change – that have a consequence, an influence. Inventions influence the world simply by existing as separate objects in the world. Inventions have an inherent functional potential – their capability to change the essence of the connections between fundamental building blocks in the world. Inventions, when used by humans to produce an action, enable the production of a specific influence on the world derived from the human action. Had the invention not been created, the specific influence it enabled a human to produce would not have existed. All human action influences the functional state of all functional units of all scales. At the largest scale, human action influences by moving the world closer or further away from its ideal state. The essence of the influence produced by a human using an invention – the quantity that describes the extent to which the influence moves the world closer or further away from its ideal state, in all of its aspects (for all functional units affected by the influence) – would not have existed had the invention not existed.

The computer and the internet have altered the magnitude and frequency at which a human may influence the world positively or negatively. We are more connected than ever. We have the potential to influence the majority of the world in an instant, something that has never existed before. As a result, we are closer to the redemption of the world than ever. We have the potential to bring perfect order, or disorder, to the world in an instant.

I am dependent on my purpose.