(09-04-2013, 03:05 AM)Dieuvont Wrote: That varies upon what you believe a data format ought to do and function for. In this circumstance in particular, regarding what comprises sentient and living beings alike, Aeather is the matter that all living beings are comprised of, and should that Aether be disrupted, it may cause complications.
See, the issue I'm having is that aether is described as being energy, AND matter, AND all living things are entirely made out of the stuff.
Energy and matter, eh it's a stretch, but it could be perceived as fuel (it wouldn't BE energy, it would just contain it), and living things need fuel to survive, so that's cool too.
But, the fact that all living things, and only living things, are made, 100%, out of the stuff, I just can't get past.
That would mean that the only supplements you'd need are aetheric supplements. Why would blood be red if it has no iron? Would we still salt our food if we didn't need sodium? Could we even get drunk? Do we even need to drink (water)? If I take an ether potion, am I drinking, without a doubt, someone's (or many people's) decomposed body? Hell, how does one make leather gear when there are no chemicals to react to the tanning process?
I don't see how the cultures in the game can be so similar to ours with such drastically different laws of nature. >.<
(09-04-2013, 03:05 AM)Dieuvont Wrote: The real inquiry ought to be towards whether or not Aether is a spiritual or physical phenomenon. As of presently, it appears to be highly physical or essentially affecting the physical realm, thus a soul would be less likely to directly interact with it as it is mainly a spiritual aspect of a sentient being.Honesly, I don't see why it couldn't be both. It's all a matter of perception.
People once thought menstruation was a (rather negative) spiritual event too.
(And that's why I'm trying to look at all plausible options for the mechanics of aether, 'cause spiritual views of the universe can overshadow information on the actual mechanics of the universe, especially in a region as religious as Eorzea.)
