The idea of immaterial refers to that which is not material, such as the soul or spirit.
The first step we are going to take is to determine the etymological origin of the immaterial term at hand. In this sense, it must be emphasized that it comes from Latin, specifically, from the word “immaterialis”, which can be translated as “which is not physical” and which is composed of four clearly differentiated parts:
• The prefix “in-“, which means “without or not”.
• The word “mater”, which is equivalent to “mother or matter”.
• The particle “-ia”, which is used to indicate “quality”.
• The suffix “-al”, which serves to establish that something is “relative to”.
Concept of immaterial
Immaterial is an adjective that refers to what is not material . The immaterial, therefore, can be associated with the spiritual, abstract, imaginary or ideal .
For example: “There is an immaterial reason that brings me to this city again and again” , “Love is immaterial: when a relationship is based on money, love does not exist” , “Father Manuel has always been guided by the immaterial, without seeking any reward other than the peace of his spirit.”
The opposite of physical
It is easy to understand the concept of immaterial by contrasting it with material things. It can be said, in this sense, that feelings and emotions are immaterial, although they may have physical manifestations or consequences.
Let's see: joy is immaterial, but it can be translated into a smile that involves a certain gesture and a movement of the lips that can be noticed just by observing the happy person. A person who experiences deep sadness , on the other hand, may reflect it with tears and sighs.
Tango is part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The soul, an immaterial entity
The soul , on the other hand, is an immaterial entity that living beings possess.
Although its definition varies according to each culture or philosophy, the term is associated with the essence of each person that is granted by God .
A type of heritage
The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is known as those non-tangible cultural assets that are protected by UNESCO . In this way, this organization is responsible for protecting cultural manifestations that are very important for man but whose essence transcends a material support, such as falconry , tango or Chinese calligraphy .
In the decade of the 90s was when the birth of this term and of UNESCO's work to protect various cultural aspects of humanity occurred. In that sense, in order for a cultural event to be considered as such, the corresponding candidacy must be submitted. From there, an expert and qualified jury is in charge of analyzing aspects or values related to it, such as its presence in the world or its history.
Another of the most important examples of manifestations that have been declared as such is flamenco, a style of dance and music that is typical of Spain and has its origins in the 17th century. Specifically, Andalusia was where he was born, which today arouses great interest throughout the world, as demonstrated by the success of the shows of flamenco artists such as the singer José Merce or the dancer Sara Baras.