On the Origin and Essence of Life

Based on the core hypothesis that ether = energy, this paper proposes a three-level ether motion model (low-level motion corresponding to physical and chemical phenomena, intermediate-level motion to life phenomena, and high-level motion to consciousness phenomena), and systematically expounds the origin and essence of life. The study holds that life is an ordered intermediate-level motion form of ether (energy) organized in specific material structures, which can self-maintain and self-replicate. Focusing on intermediate-level ether motion, this paper redefines the core characteristics of life from the perspective of ether dynamics, analyzes the interdependence between life and material structures, and explores the essence of death. It also briefly mentions the basic category of high-level ether motion and demonstrates the continuous spectrum characteristics of the three-level ether motion, providing a brand-new speculative framework for the unified understanding of the physical world, life phenomena and conscious activities.