Similar and Different

Returning now to our question concerning the most basic object of awareness, all of the things we see in the world are smaller or larger relative to other things.  But many, if not all things, are in some ways similar to one another.  Among things that are similar, what characteristics make them different?

One obvious answer is that some things are alive, and others are not.  Looking at the images shown here, one form or shape we commonly see in the world is a spiral.  It’s a pattern that appears in plants, shells, galaxies and hurricanes, to name a few examples.  Despite their similar shape, a basic difference between them is that some of these – the plants – are alive while the others are not.

All are composed of matter… so what’s the difference?