Are atoms inanimate?

[ourlivinguniverse]

Are atoms inanimate?

Is it possible to prove whether:

Atoms are inanimate objects which respond to a priori forces

OR

Atoms are material systems which respond spontaneously to their energetic environment

This might seem an esoteric question, but it has fundamental implications for the way we see the universe around us.

The former statement is consistent with materialistic philosophy, that which we’ve inherited from the Victorians. But the latter would seem to be the direction of travel that quantum mechanics is taking us in. If the latter holds, then all forces of nature are the consequence of the behaviour of matter and not the consequence!

Is it possible to prove one or the other?

 

[Gibsense]

Are atoms inanimate?

Is it possible to prove whether:

Atoms are inanimate objects which respond to a priori forces

OR

Atoms are material systems which respond spontaneously to their energetic environment

This might seem an esoteric question, but it has fundamental implications for the way we see the universe around us.

The former statement is consistent with materialistic philosophy, that which we’ve inherited from the Victorians. But the latter would seem to be the direction of travel that quantum mechanics is taking us in. If the latter holds, then all forces of nature are the consequence of the behaviour of matter and not the consequence!

Is it possible to prove one or the other?

Well now, you allow me to appear completely around the bend. I see things this way (I don't think anyone else does):
Complexity gives the transition to what we call life and consciousness.

The more complex something is the more it looks like life e.g. a city (over time) spreading tentacles, gathering food and transporting it to distribute where needed.

Wild woodland exploring a landscape (over time

But there is also a hierarchy. White blood cells are seemingly alive in their own right hunting down invaders. Our whole body is composed of individuals each cooperating to a greater whole.

Some would say the top of the tree is Giai (our planet) but maybe the scheme also involves time. A mindbending one: assume the future and the past already exist (but are amended by our universe expanding - changes happen) and let's say time can process at right angles to our time such that the past and future get amended - and so on.

But, looking down the hierarchy, to your atom. It acts within its limitations but in principle can only be an atom ... mostly

 

[Classical Motion]

I don't understand the question. Can you clarify?