Pre-Socratic Philosophy: Part One (or: Why Magnets Have Equal Rights to Possession of a Soul)

Thales, the first Philosopher - at least the first we have record of - made the rather insane sounding hypothesis that magnets were alive and possessed souls. But the thing is, once we look at his assessment through the lens of the 8 Archthemes of Creation (Primeval functions), we can see that he was actually closer to the truth than we are today, even if this was probably entirely accidental.

A Thing comes into existence, pulled from the infinity of abstract possibility (Ne/The Dao) and given form, either as concept or materially; a material Thing must have a corresponding concept, but a concept does not require a material counterpart.

The Thing, as a consequence of existing, now possesses properties:

• A Trajectory (Ni)

• Variables (Ne)

• Purpose (Ti)

• Dynamics (is the Thing in a state of flow, force, or relative stillness) (Se & Si)

• Parameters (beyond which point the Thing ceases to be the Thing that it was) (Te)

• Uniqueness (Fi)

• Shared Qualities (Fe)

A Human has all of these properties... and so does a magnet. So what's the difference?

Trajectory

A magnet has the Trajectory of fulfilling its purpose by finding its opposing force and becoming one. Or, it simply fails to reach this destiny.

A Human has exactly the same Trajectory, but with infinitely more details and variables. The ultimate Human Trajectory is to reconcile the duality inherent within and without, in all ways it manifests. Every Human Being in history has categorically failed to conclude this Trajectory, so the average magnet is actually clearly better at fulfilling its destiny than we are. And if you find that sentiment is kinda depressing, congratulations, you have now experienced a crumb of my mental state for the past 3-and-a-half years :)

Magnets: 1 | Humans: 0

Variables

A magnet has limited variables, but it still has them. Size, shape, colour, etc. Magnets also have extremely limited variability in their application compared to Humans.

A human of course has too many variables to even begin to list, including all of those the magnet has, so I guess that makes:

Magnets: 1 | Humans: 1

Purpose

A magnet has a defined and refined Purpose based on the internal logic that justifies its existence. Frequently that basic purpose is expanded on by integrating it into new purposes.

Human Purpose is a convoluted mess rife with contradiction and indecisiveness.

Magnets: 2 | Humans: 1

You might be tempted to argue that since the magnet's extended Purpose is obviously implemented by Humans, we are the user of the magnets, and this position extends to our greater candidacy for a soul, but once you remember that, as per infinite possibility (the Dao), we are merely a conduit setting up the conditions for Creation to create a new Thing, this argument becomes moot.

Dynamics

A magnet has very limited Dynamics, it doesn't move at all unless another Thing moves it, or its corresponding attractor is close enough.

Humans obviously have maximum Dynamics, they can exist in a state of flow, force and stillness all in the span of 10 seconds, if they so desired.

Magnets: 2 | Humans: 2

Parameters

A magnet has literally one Parameter, and if you need to guess what it is, please leave my site immediately.

It's magnetism, obviously. If you take magnetism from a magnet, it's inarguably no longer the Thing it was.

Humans have so many Parameters there's an entire genre of fiction dedicated to Philosophically exploring exactly what those parameters are, and that genre is getting closer and closer to a real issue (A.I.). You may think this means Humans take this point, but actually the less parameters a Thing needs to define itself, the more defined it is as a Thing. This is even worse in the case of an individual Human, as they cease to be the Thing they were before every single second (even less if you get really technical).

Magnets: 3 | Humans: 2

Uniqueness

Magnets can only be as unique as their variables, so Humans win this one by default.

Magnets: 3 | Humans: 3

Shared Qualities

Magnets obviously have limited qualities in general.

Humans have almost unlimited qualities that can separate them from each other.

The question is whether the point goes to the complexity of the Thing or the lack of division. If magnets were sentient, they would find relative ease of harmony due to fact that there are less qualities to fragment them.

Humans... need no explanation on how thoroughly they fail in this aspect. But they are infinitely more complex when grouped due to their superior Uniqueness.

Hmm...

We'll call it a draw!

Magnets: 4 | Humans: 4

You could argue that the very fact that magnets are not sentient absolutely denies them the right to have a soul, but I'll leave you this thought-nugget: is the concept of a soul not just a Thing desperately trying to justify its own existence via its own fixed definition? A magnet does not need to do this.

And the word we have assigned to that conceptual Thing (at least in English) - is the Self/Ego.