The Classification of the Universe Based on the Inherent Qualities of Beings
Inherent qualities of beings are the potentials which exist them. It is these qualities that make a being superior or inferior to others. The inherent qualities of beings are different depending on their status in the universe; therefore, the inherent qualities of beings can be used as a criterion for classifying different beings. Also as we stated before, in these discussions, perfection has a different meaning from what is commonly understood.
The inherent qualities of beings divides them into five categories: inanimate objects, plants, animals, angels, and humans. In terms of inherent qualities, inanimate objects rank the lowest, followed by plants and animals. Angels are higher in rank than animals, and humans have the highest inherent qualities. Although living in such a diverse universe can be enjoyable, it can lead to confusion and negligence. Every day, we see creatures and interact with them, but we neglect the inherent qualities of beings, their relationship with one another, their place in the universe, and their relationship with us.
Inherent Qualities of Inanimate Objects
In our lives, we are surrounded by different objects or things. Everything, from the stones that we step on, to the tools and equipment that we use every day, to our house is made of matter.
With some attention, we realize that this inanimate part of the world has characteristics common to all non-living beings. We call them the inherent qualities of inanimate beings. The inherent qualities of inanimate objects include weight, volume, color, smell, and elemental properties. We can observe these characteristics in our own physical bodies if we pay attention. It means that the physical dimension of human existence, like many other beings, has inanimate qualities.
Inherent Qualities of Plants
Plants are the second category of beings in this classification. Plants have higher existential qualities than objects. In addition to having inanimate qualities such as weight, color, smell, etc., plants have tenderness and beauty; they grow, feed themselves, reproduce, have feelings, and they can transform their weak body into a strong and robust body through growth and nutrition.
They are all considered vegetative qualities. In fact, whenever a person becomes occupied with the inherent qualities of plants, she actualizes a vegetative potential, for example, when she tries to make herself beautiful or be a winner at the world championship in a certain sport. So being beautiful, having pretty clothes and a gorgeous house, being well-groomed and fit, having the power of reproduction and fertility, and in general everything related to outward appearances are regarded vegetative qualities.
Inherent Qualities of Animals
Besides having inanimate and vegetative qualities, animals possess qualities that inanimate objects and plants lack. The qualities of animals include instinct, lust, marriage, commitment, a sense of responsibility, working for the well-being of oneself and the family, recreation, housing, and service to fellow and non-fellow beings. The faculty of anger is another quality of animals, with which they defend their privacy, families, and communities. Animals live in social groups and have hierarchies so that they can rise from being a simple member to being a leader. Animal beings are also characterized by loyalty, trustworthiness, modesty, decency, and kindness. In fact, every quality that exists in us, if observed in animals, ceases to be considered a human quality and falls under the category of animal qualities.
The Intellect or the Inherent Quality of Angels
The next category of existential qualities is the intellective ones. These qualities include science, knowledge, and matters that can be understood by the intellect. Humans and angels have these qualities. In fact, our scientific endeavors, reasoning power, and analysis are all considered intellective qualities. But intellect, which is the inherent quality of non-material beings or angels and we call it intellective quality in short, is in itself neutral. Depending on which part of our existence it serves, it can affect our happiness or unhappiness. It is necessary to point out that only a few people are interested in actualizing their intellective potential.
The Inherent Quality of Humans or Human (Spiritual) Qualities
We have discussed all of this to arrive at the existential qualities of human beings. Of course, describing the dimensions of human existence is a very important issue and requires a separate article, but here we only briefly mention that: Beings move towards more perfection and completion step by step. Plants have both inanimate and vegetative qualities. Animals have inanimate, vegetative, and animal qualities. The human being is an inanimate object, a plant, an animal, and an angel! But at the same time, she is neither an inanimate being, nor a plant, nor an animal, nor an angel!
In fact, all inanimate, vegetative, animal, and angelic qualities are tools for the human being to actualize her human (spiritual) potentials. We are only called a human being when we fulfill the potentials of the human and true dimension of our existence. But what are these human qualities or inherent qualities?
In this article, we examined the existential qualities of beings in the universe. We stated that all beings move towards perfection step by step and have the existential qualities of the previous stage of existence. While humans have the existential qualities of inanimate objects, plants, animals, and angels, they are none of these beings. In fact, what separates us from other beings is our human and true qualities. We will discuss this in the following articles.