Note: The original text is in Chinese. The English version was translated by the author using OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Matter and Energy
The essence of the universe is matter and energy.
Matter and energy can be transformed into one another. Under certain conditions, energy can generate matter, and under other conditions, matter can generate energy.
Particles constitute matter. Over 400 types of particles have been discovered so far, including quarks, neutrons, protons, electrons, positrons, photons, and mesons. However, the smallest particle that constitutes matter is still under exploration and is provisionally referred to as the “primordial particle.”
The smallest unit of energy is the quantum, which exists in various forms such as mechanical energy, nuclear energy, chemical energy, internal energy, electrical energy, light energy, biological energy, and radiation energy.
All Things
From micro to macro, primordial particles can combine to form simple objects, which then combine into complex objects, and further combine into more complex entities, culminating in the myriad things of the world.
Currently, it is understood that protons, neutrons, and electrons form atoms, which combine into molecules. Molecules then form organic compounds and proteins, progressively leading to the diversity of worldly objects.
Since the birth of the universe, evolution has been continuous. Evolution has made the starry sky so magnificent, with all kinds of celestial bodies. It has also made life forms abundant and diverse.
Survival of the fittest, elimination of the weak, and adaptation are timeless truths.
If not viewed from the perspective of evolution, the world today can be divided into existence and non-existence. The combination of existence and non-existence creates the wonders of the world. This is akin to binary in computers, where the combination of 0s and 1s creates various software and functionalities.
Thus, Laozi said:
“The two arise together but have different names; their unity is called the mystery. Mystery of mysteries, the gateway to all wonders.”
Duality and Uncertainty
In the microscopic world, there exist wave-particle duality and the uncertainty principle. In reality, these principles apply not only to the microscopic world but also to the macroscopic world.
The duality and uncertainty effects are evident in the microscopic realm but negligible in the macroscopic realm and can be ignored.
Discreteness and Finiteness
Many people perceive the world as continuous. Continuity implies no gaps and the ability to divide infinitely.
However, the real world is not continuous. No matter how seamless something appears, it is actually discontinuous.
Moreover, the universe is so vast that people perceive it as infinite. In reality, it is finite.
The entire world is discrete and finite. Everything within it is discrete and finite, akin to a village with a finite number of people or a forest with a finite number of trees.
Energy Enables Motion
Humans need food to survive, and cars require fuel or electricity to run. Without energy, humans cannot live, and cars cannot move. This principle applies to all things—without energy, nothing can move.
On a microscopic level, gaps exist between objects, filled with energy, which imbues objects with energy. Energy transfers from areas of higher concentration to lower concentration.
Without energy, objects cannot move. With energy, they can move. If the energy of an object remains constant, it will continue in its state of motion. All objects possess energy and thus have a tendency to move.
Time and Speed
Objects are composed of primordial particles, which are discrete. Energy consists of quanta, which are also discrete. The duration of changes in all things is called time.
Thus, the direction of time is irreversible and discrete, with indivisible moments. Similarly, the motion of objects has a minimum speed greater than zero and a maximum speed that cannot be surpassed.
Everything Has Its Own Nature
The potential or capability of an object, determined by its parts or combination of parts, is called its innate ability. This innate ability arises from the structure and energy of the object. The materials and their arrangement within an object define its capabilities.
Based on the innate ability of atoms, simple objects possess their own capabilities. Building on the capabilities of simple objects, complex objects develop their own. This progression continues, forming the myriad entities in the world.
Thus, everything has its own innate ability, which, when simplified, is referred to as its nature. Therefore, all things have their own nature, which may share similarities or even commonalities with others.
The Principles
How Do Things Move?All things move in accordance with their nature.
- If an object is unaffected by external forces, its movement is determined solely by its nature.
- When influenced by external forces, the outcome of these interactions dictates how it moves.
The movement of objects follows trajectories. The concrete form of these trajectories is “events,” while their abstract simplification is “rules.” These rules can also be called the Tao, principles, or laws.
The underlying reason for the movement of things is their intrinsic principles. These principles are not born of imagination but exist inherently in the real world.
It is not the principles that dictate the movement of objects; rather, the movement of objects reveals the principles.
- Where there is matter, there are principles.
- Movement creates principles, and stillness dissolves them. The two occur almost simultaneously, yet matter precedes principles; matter is tangible, while principles are intangible.
Everything Has Its Own Principles
When matter combines with energy, it generates forces. Under these forces, interactions occur between objects, leading to principles that govern the outcomes, accompanied by observable phenomena.
Objects have their own nature, and their nature dictates how they move. Events are the movement of objects, and principles are the rules governing such movements. Therefore, the movement of all things is governed by principles.
- Similar events share similar principles.
- Different events do not necessarily have different principles.
Hence, one cannot deny the principles of one event simply because of differences in another. For identical phenomena to occur, objects must follow the same principles.
- Acting against principles leads to failure; adhering to principles ensures success.
- Truth is realized through the force of principles.
Virtue is the achievement of the Tao. Following the Tao yields virtue, which is genuine; acting against it produces false virtue.
The world holds countless objects, each involving countless events. Since each event can vary infinitely, the principles of the world are vast and incalculable.
Despite this complexity, many principles are similar or identical. Recognizing the nature of things and adapting accordingly is sufficient.
Through observation, contemplation, calculation, and experimentation, humans have discovered these principles, forming disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biology, economics, politics, military science, and ethics.
Micro Builds the Macro
As Laozi said:
“A tree as great as a man’s embrace springs from a small shoot; a tower nine stories high begins with a heap of earth; a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.”
Thus, the individual constitutes the whole, and the micro forms the macro.In any system:
- Some elements have a minor influence, while others play significant roles.
- Each element is also influenced by others and by the system as a whole.
Yet, it is the individual that defines the collective, not the other way around.
Micro and macro perspectives are unified. Observing the macro through the micro is like looking east to west; observing the micro through the macro is like looking west to east. Both perspectives reveal the same entity and identical principles.
From Chaos to Order
All things progress from disorder to order.
- The motion of objects inevitably leads to interactions, primarily collisions and unions.
- Over time, these interactions reduce random chaos, fostering harmony, or dynamic equilibrium.
Harmony among entities is not innate; it results from long-term interactions. However, harmony is never perfect because all things have lifespans, leading to death and the emergence of new entities, altering the balance of forces.
The balance of forces is in constant flux. If changes are small, the system appears stable. With larger changes, temporary harmony may persist on the surface, but internally, forces are evolving, and visible phenomena follow suit. Over longer periods, internal and external dynamics undergo significant transformations.
Nature
Nature derives from “spontaneity.” For example, wood burns when reaching a certain temperature—this is spontaneous combustion. Abstractly, nature refers to things being as they are.
What does “being as it is” mean? A tree grows from a sapling to a towering giant naturally—it is “as it is.”
- Nature flows like water running downhill.
- Non-natural acts are like water being forced uphill, requiring an external agent. For that agent, such an act is natural, but for water, it is not.
The universe operates naturally:
- Stars orbit, plants grow, seasons change—all naturally.
- Human society, too, largely follows natural principles.
For humans, life stages—birth, growth, aging, death—are natural, even if unwelcome. Aging and death, though undesirable, are inherent to the body and thus natural.
Nature and non-nature together drive the movement of all things. Nature is omnipresent. Non-nature depends on nature but cannot exist independently.
As Laozi stated, the Tao and Virtue signify universal naturalness, achieved through “non-action” yet resulting in “nothing left undone.”
The subtleties of nature defy description.
Existence and Reason
- What is existence? Things and events.
- What is reason? The rules arising from the interactions of objects acting according to their nature.
Rules are determined by forces. Changing forces alters the rules. If existence aligns with reason, it is reasonable; otherwise, it is not.
Existence and reason are interconnected but independent. Hence, existence is not always reasonable. While most things are reasonable, some are not.
Unreasonable things are either eliminated or made reasonable over time. This applies to humanity as well.
The World As It Is
Why is the world the way it is? Because it is as it is. Every state has its cause. Understanding the cause suffices; there is no need to change the world.
How should things be? As they are today—this is the result of their inherent nature.
Forcing change brings disaster. As Laozi warned:
“When all things flourish together, I observe their return. Each thing returns to its root, which is stillness. Stillness is called returning to one’s destiny. Returning to destiny is the constant. Knowing the constant is enlightenment. Not knowing the constant, one acts recklessly to their peril.”
Denying the world’s essence reflects ignorance. This world, though imperfect, has achieved near-perfection through evolution.
As Laozi also stated:
“The sage acts by letting things be, valuing simplicity, aiding the natural development of all things, and refrains from interference.”
To align with nature is to act without action and achieve without striving.