What is energy?

[Revoltingest]

I know her! (well, not really "know" but I'm surprised I know the name). I have her book Is Science Multicultural?: Postcolonialisms, Feminisms, and Epistemologies. I would like to think I have an open mind, but when I start reading about feminist epistemologies of science I'm reminded of a quote/quip by a female academic whose name I can't recall (I do know she was quoted by Christina Hoff Sommers; maybe it was Susan Haack? Or Margarita Levin?) in response to a paper (or review, I think by Virginia Held) on feminist-based epistemologies of science. Namely, that while one can point out in broad strokes how a different attitude towards the scientific endeavor may be fruitful, "one still wants to know whether feminists' airplanes would stay up airborne".

I recall working with some engineerettes (correct term for females?) on the F-18 program, whom I presume supported feminism. They didn't seem to have gender based approach to their jobs. We all wanted our product to be pilot friendly & enemy deadly.

 

[Gambit]

Well, if they are the same thing then they can be measured by the same units. Do you agree? If not, why not?

Yes. I would agree.

In other words: if I cannot say that a human soul or other sorts of spiritual entities correspond to a certain amount of electron-volts then we are clearly talking of two different things.

Or, we could be talking about two different types of energy - namely, spiritual and physical.

My suggestion is not to call it energy. We were there first.

Define "we."

The term "energy" ("energeia" in Greek) goes back at least to Aristotle.

I would recommend to give it some spiritual name representing some other mystical deepity. Like universal consciousness, or holistic spirit, or karma, or ubiquitous universal love, or souls or whatever else that sounds so deeply mystic and profound that cannot possibly be confused with clear-cut and factual physical definitions.

Or, we could just call it energy, which is how it is currently defined in the dictionary.

 

[Gambit]

wow

so which came ( got created ) first in your opinion? Or is it more complex than that ?

I don't know.

 

[Gambit]

No.

To date, spirit is something that only exist in mythology.

One could argue that contemporary physics (e.g. the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics) has "spiritualized" matter.

 

[Gambit]

We can imagine all we like.

It is the evidence outside mythology that is important here.

It doesn't sound like you have much of an imagination.

 

[Gambit]

According to what I have learned from the church is that spirits has no substance. No substance then mean no energy. The religious stance on spirit is that spirits are undetectable, but with energy it not only detectable, it is also quantifiable.

That's an interesting point.

 

[outhouse]

One could argue that contemporary physics (e.g. the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics) has "spiritualized" matter.

Not successfully. Your statement is factually unsubstantiated, and I ask you to provide credible sources to back your claim.

 

[outhouse]

It doesn't sound like you have much of an imagination.

Imagination is not required to see that spirit is born of mythology and education confirms spirit does not exist outside imagination.

Maybe you have to much imagnation?

 

[gnostic]

One could argue that contemporary physics (e.g. the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics) has "spiritualized" matter.

The prehistorical and ancient men have been "spiritualizing" matters. They see spirits in the sun, moon, mountains, forests (or trees), flowers, seas, rivers, fire.

It is called S-U-P-E-R-S-T-I-T-I-O-N, seeing the SUPERNATURAL in nature.

The problem is that in day-and-age, many religious people are still hang-up on superstitions, seeing and believing in things that's not really there.

There are no evidences to support "spirit"...except for the evidences that showed that people believe in these illusions, or even worse delusions.

The funny thing is that Christians have been denouncing for centuries of other religions to be superstitions and myths, and their own God and Jesus, to be REAL, and yet, they believe in unverifiable myths and traditions and superstitions of what they called "miracles". What a delicious irony.

 

[mainliner]

You should ask someone who can lucid dream about what energy, imagination and consciousness is
you'll get a bizzare far fetched explainations which are annoyingly correct and in order . If this makes sense

 

[mainliner]

I think i found something that isn't made of energy ( maybe) but it exists ............ Love

 

[shawn001]

The term energy is used by writers and practitioners of various esoteric forms of spirituality and alternative medicine to refer to a variety of phenomena.[citation needed] There is no scientific evidence for the existence of such energy.[1] Therapies that purport to use, modify, or manipulate unknown energies are thus among the most contentious of all complementary and alternative medicines. Claims related to energy therapies are most often anecdotal, rather than being based on repeatable empirical evidence.

Energy (esotericism) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[shawn001]

I think i found something that isn't made of energy ( maybe) but it exists ............ Love

Think about what your saying here for a minute. Love is a product of the brain and requires energy.


Also just to touch on this.

"
How Love Hormones Work
Oxytocin Increases Intimacy & Bonding, Eases Psychological Disorders

How Love Hormones Work: Oxytocin Increases Intimacy & Bonding, Eases Psychological Disorders

Oxytocin is a brain chemical that mediates social behavior, which is why it’s sometimes called the “love hormone.” Oxytocin is released when mothers and babies first bond; it’s also present in intense emotional states. Oxytocin increases intimacy and bonding in sexual relationships.

How Love Hormones Work
Oxytocin is known as a love hormone because it goes beyond the mother-child connection to bonding in intimate relationships. Oxytocin is released during hugging and intimate touch; it also plays a strong role in sexual relationships.

“It’s said that the eyes are the window to the soul…they certainly are the window to the emotional brain,” said Dr Kai MacDonald. “We know that the eye-to-eye communication — which is affected by oxytocin — is critical to intimate emotional communication for all kind of emotions – love, fear, trust, anxiety.”

Oxytocin is a love hormone because it helps people bond in relationships, set up appropriate psychological boundaries, and maintain intimate relationships.

http://psychology.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_love_hormones_wor k

 

[chinu]

Does this mean that all forms of energy are ultimately spiritual?

Energy isn't a stable thing. Energy means which always keep on flowing in some direction. Either this direction, or that direction.

Thus, facing towards its origin, all forms of energy are spiritual, yes.
But, going into the opposite direction isn't spiritual, its un-spiritual act.

 

[Gambit]

One could argue that contemporary physics (e.g. the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics) has "spiritualized" matter.

Not successfully. Your statement is factually unsubstantiated, and I ask you to provide credible sources to back your claim.

Before the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. the fundamental constituents of nature were considered to be permanent material particles. We now know that is not true. Nothing is permanent. Everything is in a state of flux. Matter has become completely ephemeral, ethereal.

 

[shawn001]

Before the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. the fundamental constituents of nature were considered to be permanent material particles. We now know that is not true. Nothing is permanent. Everything is in a state of flux. Matter has become completely ephemeral, ethereal.

"Before the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. the fundamental constituents of nature were considered to be permanent material particles."

They still are and its still nature and natural laws, that is where you keep missing the boat.

 

[shawn001]

by the way


No 'God Spot' In Brain, Spirituality Linked To Right Parietal Lobe

No 'God Spot' In Brain, Spirituality Linked To Right Parietal Lobe

 

[shawn001]

Brain Damage linked to Spirituality and Religious Fundamentalism

Brain Damage linked to Spirituality and Religious Fundamentalism - Mystic Politics


Brain surgery boosts spirituality
Lose a tumour, gain self-transcendence.

Brain surgery boosts spirituality : Nature News

 

[outhouse]

. Matter has become completely ephemeral, ethereal.

Then supply credible sources to substantiate your opinion.

 

[Sunstone]

So, you believe there are basically two different types of energy - physical and spiritual?

The concept of spiritual energy seems largely unintelligible to me except perhaps in the way some friends of mine use the concept. For instance, they will say things like "Charlotte is full of negative energy today", when I would express the same notion by saying, "Charlotte is in a bad mood today".