ФОРМЫ ДВИЖЕНИЯ МАТЕРИИ

Matter, Forms of Motion of

Main types of motion and interaction of material objects. In a scientific classification of forms of motion of matter, one must consider: (1) the specific features of material objects, in which the motion takes place; (2) the existence of general laws for the given form of motion; (3) the laws governing the historical development of matter and motion from the simplest to the most intricate forms.

In accordance with these demands and the data of modern science three main groups of forms of motion of matter are distinguished: (1) inorganic nature; (2) organic nature; (3) society. In each of these groups there are many forms of motion of matter owing to the inexhaustibility of matter.

The forms of motion of matter of inorganic nature include: spatial displacement of various bodies; movement of elementary particles and fields (electromagnetic, gravitational), nuclear interaction, processes of transmutation of elementary particles, etc.; motion and transformation of atoms and molecules, including chemical forms of motion of matter; changes in the structure of microscopic bodies—thermal processes, changes in aggregate states, sound oscillations, etc.; changes in cosmic systems of various orders—planets, stars, galaxies, etc.

In animate nature the forms of motion of matter include the diverse manifestations of life; metabolism, functional links within organisms, processes of reflection of external conditions, intra-species and inter-species relations, interaction of the entire biosphere with inorganic nature. In animate nature there are integral systems of various complexity: viruses and bacteria, monocellular organisms, multicellular organisms, diverse species of plants and animals, and, lastly, the entire biosphere. Within the framework of the general manifestations of life each group has its specific forms of motion of matter, the laws of which are determined by the structure and functioning of the systems.

Social forms of motion of matter include diverse manifestations of man's activity: development of the productive forces and production, class, state, national and other relations, the process of cognition of the world, and so on.

Historically, higher forms of motion of matter arise on the basis of relatively lower ones, embodying them in a transformed way—in conformity with the structure and laws of development of a more intricate system. Unity and reciprocal influence exist between them. But the higher forms of motion of matter qualitatively differ from the lower and are not reducible to them. Disclosure of the relationship between forms of motion of matter is of great importance for understanding the development of nature, getting to know the essence of intricate phenomena, and for practically controlling them.