WHAT IS MATTER
Matter is a metaphysical concept that is universal and objective in nature. In order to define the concept of matter appropriately, we would look to V.I. Lenin’s conception. For V.I. Lenin, “Matter is a philosophical concept that expresses the property common to all objects and phenomena, of being objective reality, of existing outside of man’s consciousness and being reflected in his consciousness”. From the above conception of matter by Lenin, we can glean out five basic characteristics which matter should possess. In doing this, we would like to paraphrase this conception of matter. Thus;
· Matter is a philosophical concept (category)
Matter as it were is a fundamental category in philosophy. It is a part of the dual nature of metaphysics being ideas and matter. And since metaphysics is perceived as the core area of philosophy, it is clear that matter (being a basic metaphysical concept) is unavoidably also a philosophical concept.
· Matter expresses the property common to all objects and phenomena
This explains the idea that matter is not a property of this or that object, or this or that phenomena. The very name “matter”, implies something which can be found in all beings that exist. Matter is more like the raw material present in nature by which things exist based on the form (shape) they carry.
· Matter is a ... concept of being objective reality
Objectivity is a state of a thing being relevant to an entire system and not a specific part. Reality simply implies all things and beings that exist. Thus, matter being of objective reality shows that it is an intrinsic part of all that transpires in the universe. Everything that exists or anything that is, does so because of the presence of matter.
· Matter is a ... concept existing outside of man’s consciousness
Consciousness is a metaphysical property of the ideal. It is the center of man’s thoughts and intuitive projections. Anything that exists within consciousness is not a part of matter. Matter exists without consciousness; it exists outside of consciousness and is not regulated or determined by it. Instead, it is matter that determines consciousness.
· Matter is being reflected in his (man’s) consciousness
In order to buttress the point of matter being the determinant of consciousness, it is important to know that everything that is being reflected in consciousness is directly influenced by matter. Firstly, the human brain which is the center of the mind’s activities and of consciousness is made of some sort of tissue (matter). Also, given the fact that all that exists in the objective world around us is basically matter, it follows that everything which the consciousness perceives via the senses is matter, and thus would reflect same.
These characteristics as highlighted above, clearly describes the nature of matter. Furthermore, in his book Materialism and Empirio-Criticism, Lenin again defines matter as, “...a philosophical category, denoting the objective reality which is given to man by his sensations, and which is copied, photographed and reflected by our sensations, while existing independently of them”. Obviously, this definition agrees with the former one in all its highlighted aspects. Therefore, we can finally say that matter is;
· A philosophical category
· A representation of objective reality
· All that exists outside of man’s consciousness
· That which is being reflected in man’s consciousness
THE PHILOSOPHICAL CONCEPTS OF SPACE AND TIME
By their very nature, every object and entity that exists around us is steadily in motion. But aside this, we can also see that each one of them has extension in space. Objects could be big, small, large, tall, fat, slim, and broad and so on; thus, they occupy space. On the other hand, we would also notice that aside dimension and extension, various objects are located at different positions in connection to other objects. As it were, two objects cannot occupy the same position at the same instance (time). So, objects could be far, near, high, low, left, right and so on. This implies that objects in general are not located in the same place and instance but are scattered around variously.
· The philosophical concept of space
This reflects the universal property of material bodies to possess extension in space, i.e. to occupy a definite (exact) place and to be located in a particular way in respect to other objects of the world. For example, the space which a television would occupy is not that same as that which a table would. In fact, the television can be positioned on the table; taking a certain portion of the table’s subjective space. Also, both television and table can be positioned within a particular space in a house. The house itself is positioned in a town or city. This connection keeps going on and on; but the fact remains that no two things can occupy the same space.
· The philosophical concept of time
This reflects the universal property of material processes to follow one after another in a definite sequence, to possess duration and to develop by stages. In essence, aside the fact that objects occupy space, they also follow each other in a definite sequence. The place of an object is taken by another, which is also in turn replaced by another and so on. Thus, every object has a duration, a beginning an end, even as it goes through various stages in its development. Some objects are here in the present, some have existed in the past and some are still to come in the future.
THE EXISTENCE OF MATTER IN SPACE AND TIME
According to V.I. Lenin, “...there is nothing in the world but matter in motion; and matter in motion cannot move otherwise than in space and time”. The most important attribute of space and time is their objectivity i.e. the fact that they exist independently of man’s mind. In essence, space and time like matter, exist outside man’s consciousness; they are part of the external sensual world. This is no surprise since they are basic properties of matter, and matter being objective (existing outwardly) means that they also must be objective (exist outwardly). Now, regarding the ways in which matter exists in space and time, the most general of them are highlighted thus;
· Infinity and eternity
Matter, being of an infinite and eternal nature presupposes that it exists the same way in space and time. Thus, matter exists infinitely (eternally) in space and time; there is no end to it. Matter being the basic constituent of reality presupposes its infiniteness. Matter cannot exist finitely, as to think so is to imply that reality is temporary; and that is impossible. Hence, the eternity and infinity of matter thus determines the eternity of time and infinity of space. This means that matter never has a beginning and will never have an end.
· The tri-dimensionality of space
Space, as a form of existence of matter is three-dimensional. Thus, every material body or substance must have three dimensions. These are the dimensions of length, breadth and height. So, every entity made of matter takes up space and is perceived as how long, how wide or how tall.
· The mono-dimensionality of time
On the other hand and in contrast to space, the existence of matter in time has only one dimension. This mono direction of matter in time is from the past to the future. This stems from the obvious fact that time is irreversible; it moves only forward and it is impossible to revert its movement or to bring back the past.
LENIN'S CRITIQUE OF IDEALISM: THE OBJECTIVITY OF SPACE AND TIME
It is clear that idealism is opposed to materialism. Thus, the idealists’ have broadly denied the objectivity of space and time. In other words, idealism disagrees with the idea that space and time exist outside of the consciousness. This clearly shows why they also believe that, matter which we perceive is an illusion of the senses. Regarding this denial of the objectivity of space and time, there are two idealistic positions on this;
Firstly, the subjective idealists say that space and time are products of man’s consciousness. In other words, space and time are mere ideas which originate from our minds i.e. they are virtually real (illusory).
Secondly, the objective idealists claim that space and time are contained in and encapsulated by the absolute idea; they belong to and are products of the universal mind and spirit.
· Vladimir Lenin’s critique
Lenin in his book Materialism and Empirio-Criticism convincingly demonstrates the groundless and baseless nature of the idealists’ views on space and time. He says, if we are to believe the idealists view that space and time are merely products of human reason, what then happens to the certain fact proved by science that the earth (matter) existed in space and time long before the appearance of man? The earth has been in existence for thousands of millions of years and man, only for tens of thousands of years. Therefore, this leaves no room for any creation of space and time by man’s reason, or by some mystical absolute idea and universal mind.
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