#21 - IDEAL GRADATION

Existence and mind are one in the same. There is a gradation to existence however, some stuff exists more than other stuff, thus creating the "illusion" of separation. Total existence, and thus mind, without any essence is God. Total non-existence, a complete lack of mind, is nothing. God, being existence, defines what is real and what isn't real. 

Anything besides God isn't real, but other things seem real because they have some existence, albeit limited via essence which means there are some aspects of them which can't exist. This also extends to the mind, where something on a very low level of existence isn't even sentient, its mind so feeble it doesn't even seem alive to us. Objects on such a low level cannot do anything at all, and can only be acted upon.

But at a certain point, it becomes perceivably alive. From microbes, to plants, to fish, and then mammals... But they are all unconscious. They cannot act of their own will, but can only react based on their programming, and are thus biologically and circumstantially predestined. When they see their reflection in a mirror, they cannot reflect (pun intended) on any thoughts, only perceiving senses.

Then there's us, humans. We are conscious beings, which in the vast world of unconscious organisms is remarkable. We are able to think about thoughts, create things out of God's creations, and act out of free will. Although we have the same senses, emotions, and instincts as animals, the way we interpret those senses is vastly different due to consciousness. We are capable of some rationality.

The level of mind in humans is so remarkable, it's why I believe there must be a soul, which is beyond nature or nurture. In this body however, it is limited and thus subject to animalistic desires, susceptible to genetics and conditioning.