Essay 10-Difference and Change

Introduction

In essay 7 we have introduced the definition of object, and there is an implicit statement of plurality of objects. However, there is no explicit statement of it. In essay 6, we have established the grounds for any form of observation, that the existence of objects is proven by our conscious experience of such objects. Therefore, based on the implicit statement of plurality and the grounds of observation, this essay shall seek to explore the observations of difference and change.

Difference

The experience of difference is an experience ubiquitous to our regular lives. However, it is a bit difficult to properly define difference other than, “not the same.” Unfortunately, difference is by essence a negation of the other object, if we have A and B, B is different from A because within B there is a negation of A’s form, not necessarily the antithesis but the lack of A, or something which is not A. In short, B is B because it is not A, nor is it anything else, it is itself.

We can explore the concept of category just a bit or the Platonic form. Two objects are different when they do not share the same form or category. Notice how once more we have to define difference as negation of a concept which is “same”. However, we can define this same as more or less, “one form.” As such, we can at least define difference as the condition where objects do not share one form.

Change

Change is related to difference, it is the process in which things become different, or not same, or become something else which is not itself. However, when we say that A has changed to B, when A is there, is B present? Or when B is there, is A present? That is one of the mysteries that we shall explore in this section. Change is also ubiquitous, some even say that everything changes except for change itself, in short simply saying, “Change is constant.”

Yet what is the true nature of change? We can first observe the phenomenon of change. Let us imagine a log of wood being burned into ashes. When we observe the log, the ashes are not there, and when we observe the ashes, the log is not there. This gives us a starting point, that change might be the change of existence. However, from a beginning standpoint we know that that cannot be true.

From essay 8 we have known that the ashes are contained within the log as the log has the capacity to be turned into ashes. As such this informs us that there was no change of existence of the ashes from the observation of the log to the observation of the ashes. Instead there is only one change that is the change of phenomenon or conscious experience. Therefore, we may say that change is actually the change of conscious experience only and not the change of existence.

This is not to say that change cannot be the change of existence, but if we analyse the beginning of a phenomenon, it has to be the change of phenomenon and not the change of existence. While from the end, the end of existence is a possibility, but we do not discuss that in this essay. What this means is that the process of change is essentially the process of objects entering and exiting the region of conscious experience. Therefore, this is the phenomenal concept of change, as opposed to the existential concept of change.

Dynamic Property

All objects which can change, that is enter and exit the conscious experience, have a unique kind of property that is the dynamic property. The dynamic property is a set of 3 properties which are related to the change of the object. These properties are the dynamic property, the causal property, and the destination property. The dynamic property is what allows the object to change at all, the causal property is the conditions required for change, and the destination property is the object which is the result of the change.

Let us use again the example of the ashes and the log. The cause of the log’s change to ashes is possibly fire, and the destination of the log are ashes. Meanwhile the dynamic property simply means that the log can change. Let us take a more abstract example of a mathematical function. Any value within that function can possibly be the output of a previous operation and be an input for the next operation producing a new value. The cause of that middle value is then the operation of the previous value, and the new value is the destination of that middle value. The dynamic property simply means that such objects that are functions are possible.

Together, the dynamic property can tell us exactly how an object changes in a single historical narrative from the causes of the change to the results of the change. The dynamic properties of many objects allow us to formulate patterns of change and see the function behind the change. With that function we can predict objects not just one object at a time but many objects at once as science has done. The dynamic property, whether we know it or not, is the basis of all physical laws and patterns.

The concept of the dynamic property connects us back to the true nature of change as the change of phenomenon.  As the dynamic property shows that the destination object is already contained within the original object of change within the destination property. Meanwhile, the original object is contained within the destination property of its causes. Therefore, all objects already exist, what changes is only their relationship to conscious experience, it either is inside or outside of experience.

Phenomenal Change

We have established that change is essentially phenomenal, it is the change of the conscious experience and not the change of existence. However, this gives rise to an interesting but fatal implication that is there is no change when there is no conscious experience. In one way this is true, in the total lack of a conscious experience there would be no difference between having change and having no change.

However, science has shown that events, that is changes, occurring outside of our experience can affect and change things within our own experience. As such the notion that change is not present at all outside of conscious experience becomes questionable. Then again, we know that change cannot be a change of existence, nor can it only be a change of conscious experience. We must introduce a 3^rd variable, that is actuality.

Actuality can be roughly interpreted as the field of conscious potentiality. What it means is it is the parts of reality that our consciousness can access at any given amount of time. In relation to objects, actuality is also the region of reality where objects can change and affect each other. Therefore, the changes of an object are not the object entering conscious actuality but conscious potentiality. Conscious actuality here refers to the actual consciousness, the conscious experience as it is, while conscious potentiality refers to what can be part of consciousness at any given time.

This resolves the issue as change still does not affect the existence of objects, it only affects their relationship with conscious experience, from being unable to enter experience to being able to enter experience. There is another possible solution of introducing an omnipresent and omniscient being, but that does not actually resolve the issue. What we need is to prove that change can exist outside of conscious experience, and actuality serves as the perfect solution.

Conclusions

We obtain several philosophical statements from this essay that is, “Difference is the condition in which objects do not share one form,” “Change is the process of objects entering and exiting actuality,” “Dynamic property is the property of an object related to its change,” “Dynamic property is composed of dynamic property, causal property, and destination property,” “Dynamic property is the property that enables an object to change,” “Causal property is the object before the object at hand and the objects required to change the object,” “Destination property is the object resulted from the change of an object,” and, “Actuality is the region of reality accessible to conscious experience at any given time.” In the next essay we shall summarize the concepts of existence and formulate a definition of existence. For now this essay is declared to be done.

This essay corresponds to the Indonesian version.