Is matter made of matter? A journey through physics and philosophy

The question of whether matter is made of matter may seem trivial at first glance. 

We are all familiar with the everyday idea of ​​matter as what makes our world tangible: the chair we sit on, the water we drink, or the stone we pick up. But once we start to question this idea, a fascinating world of physical and philosophical concepts opens up. 

What is matter really, and what is behind it? 

Matter in classical physics

In classical physics, which is dominated by Newtonian principles, matter is what has mass and takes up space. 

This definition has been used for centuries to explain the world around us. According to this view, one would say: yes, matter is made of matter. A piece of wood is matter, it is made of atoms, and these atoms are also matter.
 
But as is often the case in science, this perspective is only part of the picture. 

The classical view began to falter as physicists explored the world of atoms and subatomic particles. 

Quantum physics: matter as energy?

The discovery of atoms and their components – electrons, protons and neutrons – was a milestone. 

But the development of quantum mechanics brought an unexpected realization: these fundamental particles do not behave like little billiard balls, but like waves and particles at the same time. They are not always in a fixed place, but exist in a probability cloud.
 
Even more astonishing is that the mass of these particles results to a large extent from energy. A proton, for example, consists of three quarks held together by the strong interaction. However, most of its mass does not come from the quarks themselves, but from the energy of the interaction between them. 

This leads us to Einstein's famous formula: E = mc². Matter and energy are two sides of the same coin. 

Is matter even tangible?

Digging even deeper, we find that subatomic particles such as electrons do not have a fixed extension. 

They are points in space, without a "volume" in the classical sense. The apparent solidity of matter, such as a table, is created by the electromagnetic forces acting between atoms. 

Our sense of the "substance" of matter is thus an emergent property - the result of interactions, not of an intrinsic "fullness." 

Influence of thought on matter: The power of intention

The idea that consciousness or intention can influence matter is receiving increasing attention in science and philosophy. 

Although there is no conclusive evidence, the findings of quantum physics and recent studies of consciousness open up interesting perspectives.

Quantum physics and the observer phenomenonIn quantum physics there is the so-called observer phenomenon: the state of a quantum mechanical system is influenced by the act of observation. A well-known example is the double-slit experiment, in which light and electrons behave either like waves or like particles, depending on whether they are observed. 

This finding raises the possibility that consciousness could play a role at the microscopic level. 

Intention and Energy

If matter is ultimately a manifestation of energy, it might be possible that thoughts, understood as electromagnetic or energetic processes in the brain, have subtle interactions with the environment. 

Studies on topics such as the placebo effect or intentional healing methods suggest that human intention can have measurable effects. 

Matter as Information

If matter is essentially information, as some physicists suggest, consciousness could also be a form of information that interacts with physical structures.

In this view, thoughts and intentions would be part of the information network that structures the universe.

Practical Examples and Experiments

Experiments with water structures, such as those of Masaru Emoto, suggest that thoughts and emotions could change the physical properties of water. 

Although controversial, such studies encourage us to explore the limits of what is possible.Psychokinesis claims that people can influence physical objects through the power of thought alone. 

Such phenomena have not yet been scientifically proven, but they encourage us to further investigate the relationship between mind and matter. 

Philosophical dimensions

The question of whether matter is made of matter also touches on fundamental philosophical issues. 

Even the ancient Greeks debated whether matter is infinitely divisible or whether there are smallest, indivisible building blocks - atoms. Today we know that atoms are divisible, but the idea of ​​smallest building blocks lives on in the search for fundamental particles such as quarks and leptons.
Another concept is that of information. Some physicists argue that the universe is not made of matter or energy at its core, but of information - the structure and interactions that shape the cosmos. 

In this view, matter is merely a manifestation of this underlying information. 

Conclusion

The question of whether matter is made of matter has no simple answer. 

It takes us from classical ideas about tangible objects to the fascinating depths of quantum physics and beyond into philosophy. Matter is more than just what we can see and touch. It is a complex structure of energy, interactions and perhaps even information.
Moreover, the idea that intention and consciousness could affect matter shows how profound our understanding of the relationship between mind and matter can be. 

By asking these questions, we are reminded of how profound our journey to understanding the universe is - a journey that reveals new mysteries with each step and continually challenges our view of reality.