Theory 30: The Changes in Existence Are Countless, and So Are Its Attributes

Change in existence, and the diversity of attributes among beings, is a foundational concept in philosophy, mysticism, and the natural sciences. In philosophy, the idea that everything is in a state of change goes back to thinkers such as Heraclitus, who held that no one steps into the same river twice, since both the river and the person are always changing. From a scientific perspective too, the universe is described as dynamic and evolving, from the motion of atoms and chemical processes to the evolution of galaxies and living organisms.

Attributes refer to the nature and identity of phenomena. In Islamic philosophy, there is discussion of divine attributes, such as knowledge, power, and life, as well as the attributes of material beings, such as color, size, and mass. These attributes are sometimes essential and sometimes accidental, and may themselves be transformed by the changes taking place within existence.

The relationship between change and attributes
Change in attributes: many changes in existence arise from transformations in attributes. A leaf, for instance, changes from green to yellow, and a star's temperature and brightness change over the course of its life.

Boundless diversity: the countless nature of change and attributes stems from the complexity and vastness of the universe. Even in quantum physics, subatomic particles may exist in several states simultaneously, as described by Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.

Philosophy and mysticism: from a mystical point of view, the apparent changes in existence may be interpreted as different manifestations of a single, unchanging truth. Rumi, in the Masnavi, held that the world is in constant motion, yet all these changes flow from a single source.

In summary, change and the diversity of attributes are not only intrinsic features of the material world, but a theme that challenges the human mind to reflect on the relationship between stability and transformation, unity and multiplicity.

Theory 30: The Changes in Existence Are Countless, and So Are Its Attributes

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