Solidity vs. Fluidity

Only a balanced mind can see through the two sides of the coin, embrace the opinion of others, and change oneself from within.

Our world is the great balance of solid & flow: Solid ground and flow river; solid metal wood, and fluid atmosphere, etc. The contrast between solidity and fluidity is a recurring theme in philosophy that has been explored by thinkers from various cultures.

The ongoing dialogue between these two perspectives continues to shape contemporary philosophical debates. Here's a brief overview of some key perspectives:

Solidity: The notion of solidity implies stability, permanence, and a fixed, well-defined structure or essence. In Western philosophy, thinkers emphasized the reality of permanent, unchanging forms or essences as the foundation of existence. In the modern era, philosophers upheld the idea of a stable, unitary self or subject as the basis of knowledge and experience.

Fluidity: The idea of fluidity suggests change, impermanence, and a lack of fixed, essential properties. Both Eastern philosophers and ancient Greek philosophers, famously proclaimed that "everything flows" and that change is the fundamental nature of reality. Our thoughts are flowing, ideas are flowing, hopefully towards the right places, solving lots of critical problems, so human societies can move in the right direction and advance humanity.

 The tension between solidity and fluidity has been a productive source of philosophical inquiry, with different thinkers emphasizing the importance of either stability or change in their understanding of the nature of reality, knowledge, and human experience. Only a balanced mind can see through the two sides of the coin, embrace the opinion of others, and change oneself from within. Ultimately, the balance and interplay between solidity and fluidity remain a central concern in many areas of philosophical investigation, from metaphysics and epistemology to ethics and political theory.

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