Everything Is Temporary and the Little Lie:
Man as a Product of the Earth and His Return to It –
An Expanded Scientific–Philosophical Study
Author: Flamur Buçpapaj
Date: October 7, 2025
Abstract
This study examines the transient nature of the universe and the role of small illusions in human life, analyzing man as a product of the Earth and mortality as a return to it. Using an interdisciplinary approach, it integrates classical and contemporary philosophy, biotechnology, evolutionary psychology, and ecology. The analysis reveals that temporariness and the perception of truth are deeply interconnected, forming the basis for understanding human actions, motivations, and purposes. The study also explores the moral, social, and existential implications of the interaction between man Ontology of Temporariness
The Philosophy of Change
Heraclitus (c. 535–475 BCE) declared that “everything flows” (panta rhei), emphasizing that nothing remains unchanged. This idea is echoed in Buddhist philosophy, where the concept of anitya describes the impermanence of all things. In this context, temporariness is not merely a passive characteristic of nature but a universal law shaping existence itself.
Temporariness and Human Perception
From a psychological perspective, our perception of reality is also temporary and relative. Cognitive psychology suggests that memory, emotion, and perception are influenced by temporal and social factors, giving us a subjective version of reality. Philosophers such as Kant argued that man does not perceive the “universe as it is,” but only through the categories and mental structures of the mind.
The Little Lie: An Existential Mechanism
Evolutionary Psychology
The “little lie” often functions as a survival tool. Studies in evolutionary psychology show that humans have developed the ability to use small illusions or lies to gain social advantages, avoid conflicts, and maintain communal status.
Epistemology and the Relativized Reality
From an epistemological viewpoint, the small lie challenges the notion of pure knowledge: it reveals that the perception of truth is relative and often shaped by human needs and interests. Philosophers such as Nietzsche argued that truth is a human construction, serving survival and social order rather than objectivity.
Moral and Social Role
Beyond its psychological and epistemological dimensions, the small lie carries moral and social implications. It can protect the individual or the community by reducing pain and conflict, but it can also be misused, creating tension and injustice.
Man as a Product of the Earth
Man is the result of biological evolution and continuous interaction with the environment. Every human organism is part of the ecosystem—extracting resources and simultaneously influencing its balance.
Scientific Perspective
Evolutionary Biology: Human anatomy, physiology, and behavior are products of adaptation to natural environments. Genetic variations and natural selection have shaped the capacities and instincts that make us fit for survival within diverse ecosystems.
Ecology: The relationship between man and nature is reciprocal. Ecosystem destruction directly affects human survival and ecological health. The concept of man as an ecological agent is essential to understanding the long-term impact of our actions.
Philosophical Perspective
Materialist philosophers such as Democritus and Epicurus argued that man possesses no distinct “divine” element; he is an inseparable part of nature and the Earth. This view links human existence to the cycle of life and death, emphasizing the importance of conscious interaction with nature.
. Mortality and Return to the Earth
Mortality is the ultimate reality of every existence. The phrase “there we shall return” symbolizes the natural process in which biological substances and energy reintegrate into the Earth.
Existential Perspective
Heidegger views mortality as central to understanding life itself: awareness of finitude shapes the way we live and make decisions.
Epicurus, on the other hand, suggests that understanding death should free man from fear, enabling a fuller and more conscious life.
Scientific Perspective
Biological processes after death return elements to the Earth, ensuring the continuous cycle of energy and matter. This aligns with the principle of thermodynamics: energy is never lost but transformed.
Thus, returning to the Earth is part of an ecological cycle that guarantees the renewal of life and natural balance.
The Relationship Between Temporariness, the Little Lie, and Existence
This chapter integrates three key elements—temporariness, the small lie, and human nature.
Temporariness reveals the limits of all phenomena and the importance of conscious action.
The small lie acts as a protective mechanism that helps humans manage transient perceptions and experiences.
Man as a product of the Earth is an inseparable part of the cycle of life and death, bearing both existential and moral responsibility toward nature and society.
. Methodology
This study employs an interdisciplinary approach:
Philosophical analysis: Classical (Heraclitus, Epicurus, Heidegger) and modern texts on temporariness, perception, and mortality.
Scientific references: Evolutionary biology, ecology, and thermodynamics to understand the man–Earth relationship.
Evolutionary and social psychology: Examination of the use of the small lie and subjective perception.
Comparative studies: Cross-cultural analysis of mortality and illusion.
Discussion
The analysis demonstrates that humanity must understand and respect the temporariness of all things. Illusions and relativized perceptions are mechanisms for managing life’s complexity. The relationship between man and the Earth is deeply interconnected, where individual and social actions impact the broader ecosystem. Confronting temporariness and understanding the perceived reality are essential for ethical and existential behavior.
Conclusions
1. Every phenomenon is temporary; this is a fundamental reality that must be understood and accepted.
2. The small lie and subjective perception are necessary mechanisms for survival and psychological balance.
3. Man is a product of the Earth and an inseparable part of the natural cycle; responsibility toward nature is both existential and moral.
4. Mortality and the return to the Earth are integral to an ecological and existential cycle that ensures the regeneration of life.
