V. HUMANIZING THE SOMA: PERCEIVING THE HUMAN BODY ANTHROPOMORPHICALLY

PREAMBLE

Is it valid to ascribe what are usually considered 'human' motivations, values and characteristics to a human being's (microscopic and macroscopic-anatomical) body itself?

Are animals, including human beings, essentially analog computers made out of flesh and bones so that the psyche (i.e., mind, 'soul', 'spirit') logically and unavoidably demonstrates the same patterns of function that are manifest in the body?

Certain 'conjugate' pairings of verbs may be pertinent to apprehend the nature of both physical and psychological heterosexual interaction - and, indeed, such is the source of all higher life forms.

Some complementary terms:
1. effecting-affecting,
2. informing-transforming,
and
3. defining-interpreting.

There may be others.

Thus:
1.. male effects female while female affects male,
2.. male informs female while female transforms male,
and
3. male defines female while female interprets male.

These interactive phenomena may be initiated by the male element or the female element but the (complementary) male and female roles are fixed and invariant - unless the male human being verbally defines the female and their interaction in an inverted manner.

[The latter configuration severely decreases the procreational efficiency of the situation; and the Garden of Eden story in Genesis 2-3 provides a vivid example of the problem ('screw-up', 'f--- up') that results. When questioned by God about the events of the day, Adam replied, in effect, 'Eve effected/informed/defined me - so that I became disobedient and ate the fruit.' Or, more succinctly: 'Eve 'impregnated' me, she fu--ed me, she knocked me up', so what happened isn't really my fault.'

Also, when a man denies that he has effected/informed/defined a woman or a situation that he did, indeed, 'father', he is, precisely, a jerk.]

NOW, ANALOGIES AMONGST REALMS AND SCALES

Inasmuch as the psychological realm is a mere product/manifestation of the physical realm, it should not be surprising that analogies present and characteristics are shared!

A. In the microscopic-cellular scale of the Physical Realm:

1. Effecting-affecting

Whether or not the microscopically tiny ovum affects the
microscopically very tiny sperm cell by attracting it by a process of chemotaxis ('perfume', so-to-speak), the ovum certainly affects the male element so that it ejects its chromosomes into the cytoplasm of the ovum after the sperm cell has attached itself to the wall of the ovum.
Via its contribution of half of the chromosomes necessary for new life, the sperm cell effects the ovum so that it becomes what it can become - a new living being.

2. Informing-Transforming

The chromosomes of the sperm cell inform the ovum (ie, contribute genetic information).
And the ovum transforms the sperm cell so that at least its chromosomes become part of new life - rather than being a 'lost cause'.

3. Defining-Interpreting

The genetic material of the sperm cell's chromosomes further define the information already present in the ovum (eg, whether the new life entity will be male 0r female - and many other characteristics) while the ovum's already present genetic material may be said to interpret the male input/information.

B. In the macroscopic-anatomical scale of the Physical Realm:

1. Effecting-Affecting

It is widely recognized that a female human being grooms and dresses herself (ie, her macroscopic-anatomical body) in such a manner so as to affect whether and/or how males (especially of her own generation) pay attention to her.

[This phenomenon is natural and virtually automatic - but does not excuse disrespectful and rapacious approaches by males.]

If this interaction leads to mutually suitable macroscopic-anatomical intimacy, the female element affects the male element to contribute the genetic material of semen while the latter effects the female body so what it becomes what it can become - a birth-giving mother.

2. Informing-transforming

In the event of male-female anatomical intercourse, the male phallus informs (ie. forms from the inside) the female's vaginal sexuality while the latter tends to transform the male element along with the man.

Although seeking 'sex', some men fear a woman's power to transform his sexual energy and associated personality.

[It may also be noted that in many aspects of pornography, the naked female body acts as a quasi-phallus to visually inform a man's consciousness - thus inverting the natural male-female interaction.]

3. Defining-Interpreting

Often a man does not realize that when he makes love to a woman in an anatomically intimate physical way (ie, by sexual intercourse), he defines the woman as his. He possesses (not 'owns') her. This is comparable to the religious concept of being possessed.

In turn, she assumes (and is 'stuck with') her power and responsibility to interpret his actions, words and wants and organize a future for/with him. In many ways, a female's 'sexual drive' comes into play after intercourse.

When a man makes love to many woman, he has many women experiencing sexual drive to organize a future for him - and this results in well-known complications.

Finally, in the same way that an ovum owns the genetic material that a sperm cell has donated to it, a woman owns (not 'possesses') the words, actions and wants that a man has addressed to her. In the case of a male making love to many females, they easily come into conflict in terms of who owns the words, actions and wants of the man.

C. In the Psychological (mind, soul, spirit) Realm

Although the terms 'soul' and 'spirit' are ofter thought of interchangeably, their (a) common usages and (b) etymologies are somewhat distinct. For example: (a) one may speak of "the soul of Rock and Roll" but, rarely, "the spirit of Rock and Roll"; and "the spirit of Christmas" is frequently cited whereas "the soul of Christmas" is uncommon. And: (b) the etymology of 'soul' has to do with animating principle whereas the etymology of 'spirit' tends towards meaning or context.

1. Effecting-Affecting

Analogous to how a sperm cell and its chromosomes animate and effect (ie, 'impregnate') an ovum so that it has the chance to become what it can become (ie, a new life), a male human being's words (and actions and wants) addressed to a female human being constitute soul that animates and effects (ie, 'impregnates) her spirit (ie, her meaning and context) so that she has the chance to become what she can become (ie, a new reality/future).

This latter, in turn, affects the male in terms of his further words (and actions and wants qua soul).

2,3 Informing-Transforming, Defining-Interpreting

This blogger will leave it to the kind Commenter to formulate the latter heterosexual interactions.