Telos of the platonic realm-Inspiring the true nature of biology-Life has purpose

 

Telos of the platonic realm-Inspiring the true nature of biology-Life has purpose

 

The Greek word “telos” introduced by Aristotle , the Greek philosopher-biologist, implies purpose or cause.

In Indian philosophy kosha model, describes an outer gross layer-the food or life sheath or Annamayakosha (in Sanskrit, Anna means food), This followed internally by the pranamaya kosha or the life-force sheath, which on further depth reveals the manomaya kosha or the “mind-sheath”. The mind in Sanskrit is the inner instrument denoted as the antahkarana.

In Greek philosophy these inner subtle sheaths of life force and mind should correspond to the platonic realm or the realm of mental phenomenon. 

A key feature of annamayakosha or the life sheath is self-organization. This means the simplest living unit i.e the cell is bounded and separated from the environment by a selectively permeable membrane. This membrane allows only certain nutrients or food constituents to enter the cell, allowing the cell to survive and reproduce as an individual entity. This tendency to survive is so strong that a cancer cell spews out chemotherapeutic drugs or drugs aimed to kill a cancer  cell. I propose that this survival is not merely a Darwinian selection by the environment but an adaptation to varying environmental conditions. The goal of the single cell is to develop into multi-cellular complex species, which include human beings. The pinnacle of achievement of human beings are physical discoveries which drive science and mental discoveries which drive philosophy. Innovation is the application of discovery principles, which entails physical experiments with matter.

In Indian philosophy, primarily denoted in the Upanishad texts, self-realization is the goal of human life. This corresponds to the Greek saying of “Man know thyself”. This knowing is by being (Jnana Yoga) and doings of the mind (Raja Yoga). Knowing this way pre-supposses a mind.

At this juncture , I would like to relive the shloka or verse:

 “Asato Ma Sadgamaya, Tamasoma Jyotir Gamaya, Mrityur Ma Amritam Gamaya”. This literally translates as “May I be led from Untruth to  Truth ( Being), from darkness (ignorance) to light (knowledge) and from death (perishability) to immortality (that which does not perish)

Since the physical perishes, the above shloka is true for our mental universes. The Greek  Telos philosophy comes full circle here, as telos pre-supposes purpose, both the physical and mental have purpose, i.e the purpose of permanence. Since the physical perishes and is impermanent, the Indian philosophy of the Upanishads, says the goal of human life is to know thyself by being and this knowing never dies i.e it is imperishable.