I actually really like your theory. :o
To say that Pokemon are natural spirits... in a way makes sense, but in a way I find that kinda hard to wrap my head around. @
[email protected] Mostly because it implies that they are ethereal to some degree which is.... ehh, I'm not sure if that's really the case, y'know?
I also think it would make more sense to say that their anatomy in general is far different than what we're accustomed to. Like say, it's very possible for Pokemon to die from natural causes much like any other being; they're just significantly more resilient and won't die easily. Explosions and whatnot won't kill them depending on the explosion and the type of Pokemon hit by it, so it could be that their bodies are, by Pokemon standards at least, resistant to explosive shockwaves.
In the real world, actual explosive shockwaves would shatter anything within a certain blast radius as if it was glass, living or not. Obviously, Pokemon plays by very different rules so the best assumption that can be made is that their bodies are rigid enough to withstand them.
In regards to channeling the elements, it's not outside the realm of possibility to say that they have certain pouches within their bodies that produce chemicals that fuel their attacks. This pretty much can be the case for Fire Pokemon, although it's not impossible to imagine something similar occuring for Water Pokemon as well.
I definitely think they're more solid than we tend to think of 'spirits' being. I use the world only to invoke the sense that they're connected to the natural forces of the world more than our world's natural animals are. But I like the idea that they're more pliable than things are in our world to explain things like Pokemon evolution between forms, since they don't grow into them, they change in seconds.
Whatever the case, I absolutely agree that they're made of more durable stuff than our world seems to be!
I suppose in a different world, it's entirely possible that all elements could manifest the way fire manifests in ours, so a chemical explanation could also be viable. It's really not that different from the idea that some part of their mass can be converted into an energy form akin to their 'element' either, which since so much energy in contained in every bit of mass in our world, has seemed a great explanation for how they're able to produce so much energy beyond what it seems like their body should be able to hold the representative appearance for.
One thing that doesn't quite work with a purely scientific chemical explanation as cleanly is their ability to control who is harmed imo. For example, Ponyta can control who is burned by their flames, and who isn't. For another, despite the volume and coloration (implying temperature) remaining the same from Charizard's flames or Pikachu's electricity, whether targets are burned to a crisp or only comically singed also varies a lot. To me this is more easily explained by a "magical" approximation than a scientifically-inspired one.
Definitely think science leaning explorations of Pokemon abilities are neat though too.
I prefer the "They're just animals" explanation.
Simple and to the point serves well!
At the end of it all, I gotta say I agree with you. I just think it's fun to stop and try to understand it now and then. When I get tired or bored or find a debate too hot, I definitely come back to your view though lol!
Nice theory, but I think they do evolve biologically considering that there is fossil pokemon that are ancestors to current pokemon and species adaption to certain environments, such as the alolan forms of Kanto pokemon. They seem magical and some might actually be magical but I think they're mostly just superpowered animals. Superpowered to us, but normal for them.
I do definitely see what you mean, though I don't see biological evolution as being prohibited by my theory. If Pokemon reflect or are manifestations their environmental forces & energy signatures, it makes sense that as the world changes so would their forms (fossil Pokemon) or their location changes so too would they (Alolan forms, Arbok hood patterns, etc).
I definitely think there's merit to the super powered animal theory, but it's fun to imagine for me that another world has a very non-mundane explanation for its creatures.
Thank you for thread responses everyone!