The Fluidity of Nature

1. Intro
If one sees the title of this article, the first few questions that may come into one’s mind are: Is Nature easily deformable like air and water? Or is it because there is a lack of Natural Order? Or is it because Earth is covered by more water bodies than land mass? The answers are none of the ones suggested in the questions {the image (credit: anon) is a metaphor for all Natural behaviors}. The Fluidity does mean that Nature is in constant motion in time-scales that may not be easily obvious to human mind – the continuous motion in pursuits of equilibrium by responding and adapting to the imposed forces and circumstances.
Why the Fluidity concept is important? Let us try to find the answer in Charles Darwin’s (1809 – 1882) words: In the history of humankind (and animal kind too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed. Although Darwin referred to humans and animals in this quote, the capacity to collaborate, adapt and improvise represents the energy of resilience that flows through all Natural existence. This flow of energy that initiates the processes of transformation in time – from one state to another – from one form to another, is the Fluidity.
Before going further, a brief on some basics may be appropriate. Elements of Nature are defined by, or react to the stresses imposed by two ambient physical parameters – temperature and pressure. The properties of a fluid – its viscosity and density – change in response to the changes of these two ambient parameters. We see something as solid and others as liquid or gas in normal climatic range of regional temperature and pressure. We tend to see solid as something dead and fluid as something alive. But it is not the state of matter per se, rather the processes of transformation in time that defines fluidity.
In modern times, a third stress is imposed on Nature – this anthropogenic stress started from the beginning of industrialization. We all know about this important factor – this is the pollution that has been changing the pristine Natural characteristics of air, water and land. We are seeing the effects of this factor in our lifetime – the accelerated climate change and associated implications. I hope to discuss this issue further at a later time. What is more with the Fluidity of Nature?
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2. The Signature Characteristics of Fluidity
The first thing to emphasize is the role of time – Fluidity of Nature is TIME – without it Fluidity has no meaning. Scientists and professionals use time to describe dominant processes – from the long-scale perspective such as astronomical time and geologic time to the short-scale perspective such as engineering time and human time. In time, what appears as solid of certain shapes and texture may represent nothing but a transient state. If one tries to see the same object in different times – its appearance may be quite unrecognizable. Each and every element of Nature has its own time-scale of longevity and adaptation. In the context of time, everything is fluid – ever changing in the state of its existence in response to external actions.
Fluidity is CONTINUITY. The diverse elements of Nature nourish one another to thrive and grow in the families of togetherness – the ecosystem. Energy flows from one community to another in a web of conservation processes to promote collective growth and sustainability. Similar processes happen in individual human lives – Fluidity in the breaths of physical growth and decay, in mental fluxes through the streams of realizations – all evolving continuously in time reincarnating to the new states. Humans initiated and started thinking collectively since the beginning of social living. But history tells us that some unscrupulous actions dislodged humankind from its path time and again.
Fluidity is RESILIENCE to overcome disruptions. Time and again Natural processes have been disrupted by episodes of disasters like earthquakes, storms, floods, droughts and tsunamis. Each time such an episode happens, the resilience of Nature comes up with an innovative response giving birth to new breeds of species adaptable to the changed conditions and circumstances.     
Fluidity is ADAPTATION. As we all know, a fluid does not have any shape of its own, but assumes the shape of its container. So are Nature and all existence – things assume shape conforming to the place and time to which they belong. The rigidity of matter melts into the fluidity of adaptation processes.
Perhaps the discovery of Darwin in identification of the unique forms of flora and fauna in the Galapagos Island is an impressing example of the Fluidity of Nature. The types of flora and fauna of the island indicate how different species adapted to the isolated local conditions to survive and evolve into the unique ones.
Fluidity is BALANCE and DYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM. We have discussed dynamic equilibrium in this page before – it is essentially the Isaac Newton’s (1643 – 1727) famous Third Law of Motion – that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Looking through the Newton’s Second Law of Motion, the equilibrium principle represents a force-response knot – the active and reactive forces on the one hand and the accelerating response on the other. As one changes, the equilibrium is broken until others change too in a defined pattern of processes balancing the equation – within a time frame known as the adaptation time.
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3. Fluidity in Symbolism
Is there anyway to indicate the Fluidity of Nature by some symbolic relations? Natural processes are too complex and there are no easy answers to the question. Let us see if we can articulate some simple arguments without going into the rigors of scientific analysis. First thing to do is to eliminate the notion of RIGIDITY. For example, the statement, 2 + 2 = 4 is correct, but it does not represent the reality of Natural processes because the statement is rigid.
Similarly, a relation like, Y = mX + C, may appear flexible but is neither appropriate. This is because life and all existence are too complex to be represented by a linear straight line.
Perhaps the equation of a circle, X^2 + Y^2 = R^2 grounded to its origin, is simple enough yet captures some key characteristics of Nature. But, because there is no time in this equation, it rather indicates a state of achieved equilibrium. The variables in this equation can assume values according to the changing phases of life and existence. It is nonlinear; and as we talked about it in other blogs, a circle is a perfect example of stability and equilibrium but could yet roll into the dynamic mode when supports are changed. When laid out, it unfolds into a wave form – the fundamental mechanism how energy is transmitted. We will have more time to discuss wave and energy in the next blogs. The spherical shape of Sun and Moon, the daily ritual of day and night, and the seasonal cycle have inspired ancient thinkers to view life as a WHEEL.
The circle is also adequate to describe another signature characteristic of Nature – duality and multiplicity. We hope to discuss this aspect at another time.
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4. Practical Aspects of the Concept of Fluidity
Let us shift our focus on a practical aspect of the concept of Fluidity. Environmental impacts come into attention each time an engineering project is proposed. It is impossible to have a project that would not affect the environment to a certain extent. Some affects can be immediately disruptive and damaging, while others can vary from small to large, or can be in a slow and long-term mode. The issues need careful analysis and decision making before a project is approved.
I like to highlight a discussion I once had with one of my colleagues. As an environmentalist, my colleague was pointing to the adverse impact of an engineering project on some aquatic lives. I asked him what the adaptation times of those affected lives were. He seemed annoyed by my question, but had no idea about the adaptation times of those species. Without going into details, we can safely say that at least three critical questions need to be answered on environmental impact issues: What are the ranges of acceptable limits? Since adaptation is Nature’s way of doing things, what are the time-scales of adaptation of the affected environments and species? What are the ways to minimize effects? The impacts can be very critical, even irreversible, if the adaptation times of the affected items are longer than the project life-time.       
Does the Fluidity of Nature tell us that disruptions and disturbances are acceptable because Nature is adaptable? Well, it does not. It rather tells us to open our eyes to the reality of IMPERMANENCE in all existence (Buddha - The Tathagata). Nature does not like stagnation – it is on the continuous mode of adaptation to changed conditions and circumstances – in times long and short. What are the implications of it for human behavior? We have discussed some of it in the Social Order blog of the SOCIAL INTERACTIONS page (see links in Widecanvas Home Page). Perhaps a line from Darwin would throw some more lights on the issue. He said: Man selects only for his own goods, Nature only for that of the being which she tends. Darwin is referring to the fact that Nature tends its actions to achieve equilibrium for all of its diversity while humans tend to prioritize selfish gains. But social living requires humans to rise above it. We would only be able to reach the level of Nature – to its sophistication of Fluidity – only when our interests will not be limited to selfish gains. Nature works for collective welfare, shouldn’t we too?
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Here is an anecdote to ponder:
The disciple commented, “Sir, I am trying to understand the implication of the absence of rigidity in Natural existence.”
The master replied, “Many people like to think as you do, because rigidity gives an immediate impression of stability and security. But Fluidity also indicates stability and security through the processes of dynamic equilibrium. The states of Natural processes are only a matter of time – what is rigid in a certain time-frame will appear fluid in a longer one.”  

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- by Dr. Dilip K. Barua, 30 June 2016

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