It is the push against the boundaries that is the essence of what it means to be human.
Summary: The parallels between gravity and mortality are striking. Both are ever present in our lives and are forces that cannot be escaped or ignored. They are universal, affecting all matter and all living beings, regardless of circumstance. Both are also attractive in nature, drawing toward a center — gravity toward the center of mass, mortality toward death.
Gravity and mortality! Who would have thought that they are brothers in arms.
Gravity and mortality are forces that shape our existence, each in their own profound way. While gravity governs the motion of planets and the fall of a stone, mortality effects the trajectory of human life. Both are ever-present forces that exert an incessant pull. Exploring their similarities just happens to be a fun exercise, and so, here we are.
Gravity
Gravity is an attractive force that acts between two masses. It is fundamental to the structure and order of the cosmos. Without gravity, the stars would not form, planets would not orbit, and life as we know it would not exist.
Gravity is the reason we remain bound to Earth’s surface, preventing us from drifting into the void of space. When a stone is thrown into the air, gravity slows its ascent, brings it to a halt at its highest point- the vertex, and then accelerates its descent back to the ground. The elegant parabola the stone traces embodies gravity’s pull.
Among the fundamental forces of nature, gravity is unique. It is always attractive, never repulsive, drawing masses together rather than pushing them apart like electric charges of same sign do. This universality gives gravity a special role in shaping the universe on a cosmic scale. From the clustering of galaxies to the tides of Earth’s oceans, gravity is a silent hand, always at work.
Mortality
Mortality is a constant presence that shapes the arc of human life. Its influence begins with birth.
At this starting point of our life, we are helpless and are entirely dependent on the care and goodwill of others. The horizon of our choices is very limited. Chew on a toy, claw on the leg of a chair.
The nurturing instincts that natural selection has embedded in us ensure that the fragile beginnings of life are protected and allowed to flourish. As we grow, our capabilities and choices expand. As we enter youth, life’s possibilities seem boundless.
However, just as a stone thrown into the air starts to slow down and reaches a vertex before descending, so too does life’s horizon of possibilities start to shrink as we grow older. Under the influence of mortality, with aging the horizon of our possibilities starts to narrow. The physical and mental vigor that once characterized youth begins to wane.
Life, in its later stages, becomes a process of consolidation and reflection, a return to simplicity of its beginning akin to the stone’s descent to the ground.
Parallels between Gravity and Mortality
The parallels between gravity and mortality are striking. Both are ever present in our lives and are forces that cannot be escaped or ignored. They are universal, affecting all matter and all living beings, regardless of circumstance. Both are also attractive in nature, drawing toward a center — gravity toward the center of mass, mortality toward death.
Gravity and mortality also evoke philosophical questions about existence.
Gravity binds us to the Earth, providing stability and a sense of place in the universe. Yet it also reminds us of our limitations, as we are unable to escape its pull without extraordinary effort.
Similarly, mortality gives life structure and urgency. The awareness of life’s finite nature compels us to seek meaning, to create, and to cherish the moments we have, qualities that also require extraordinary effort.
Both forces also inspire efforts to transcend their limits.
Humanity’s desire to overcome gravity has led to remarkable achievements in science and engineering, from the first flight to the exploration of outer space. Similarly, the desire to transcend mortality has driven advancements in religion, philosophy, medicine, the search for longevity, and the pursuit of legacies through art, knowledge, and culture.
These efforts reflect a fundamental aspect of human nature: the drive to push beyond the boundaries imposed by the forces that surround us. It is the push against the boundaries that is the essence of what it means to be human: to rise, to reach above, aspire to experience the limits of our potential, and ultimately, to return to our beginnings.
Gravity and Mortality are brothers in arms.
Ciao, and thanks for reading.
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