There could be said to be eight urges (drives, impulses) in life.
These we call DYNAMICS.
These are motives or motivations.
We call them THE EIGHT DYNAMICS.
There is no thought or statement here that any one of these eight dynamics is more important than the others. While they
are categories (divisions) of the board game of life, they are not necessarily equal to each other. It will be found amongst individuals
that each person stresses one of the dynamics more than the others, or may stress a combination of dynamics as more important than other
combinations.
The purpose in setting forth this division is to increase an understanding of life by placing it in compartments. Having
subdivided existence in this fashion, each compartment can be inspected (as itself and by itself) in its relationship to the other
compartments of life.
The FIRST DYNAMIC is the urge toward existence as one's self. Here we have individuality expressed
fully. This can be called the Self Dynamic.
The SECOND DYNAMIC is the urge toward existence as a sexual activity. This dynamic actually has two
divisions. Second Dynamic (a) is the sexual act itself. And the Second Dynamic (b) is the family unit, including the rearing of children.
This can be called the Sex Dynamic.
The THIRD DYNAMIC is the urge toward existence in groups of individuals. Any group, or part of an
entire class, could be considered to be a part of the Third Dynamic. The school, the society, the town, the nation are each part
of the Third Dynamic and each one is a Third Dynamic. This can be called the Group Dynamic.
The FOURTH DYNAMIC is the urge toward existence as or of Mankind. Whereas one race would be
considered a Third Dynamic, all the races would be considered the Fourth Dynamic. This can be called the Mankind Dynamic.
The FIFTH DYNAMIC is the urge toward existence of the animal kingdom. This includes all living
things, whether vegetable or animal, the fish in the sea, the beasts of the field or of the forest, grass trees, flowers or anything
directly and intimately motivated by life. This can be called the Animal Dynamic.
The SIXTH DYNAMIC is the urge toward existence as the physical universe. The physical universe is
composed of Matter, Energy, Space and Time. We take the first letter of each of these words and coin a word – MEST. This can be
called the Universe Dynamic.
The SEVENTH DYNAMIC is the urge toward existence as or of spirits. Anything spiritual, with or
without identity, would come under the heading of the Seventh Dynamic. This can be called the Spiritual Dynamic.
The EIGHTH DYNAMIC is the urge toward existence as infinity. This is also identified as the Supreme
Being. This is called the Eighth Dynamic because the symbol of infinity, ∞, stood upright makes the numeral 8. This can be called
the Infinity or God Dynamic.
The solution to the problem that does not consider all the dynamics is not an optimum solution. Waste dumped into the sea
may be expedient for some company's disposal problems but at huge expense to the Fifth and Sixth Dynamics.
The soldier flinging away his life in battle is operating on the Third Dynamic (his company, his nation) at the expense of
his First Dynamic, the Fourth and all the rest.
It is through application of these principles by oneself and by assisting others to understand and apply them that an
individual can attain an increased level of survival for himself, those with whom he associates, and indeed, all life.
- L. Ron Hubbard -
