Difference between revisions of "Realmatic Theory"

Of the three Realms, the '''Physical Realm''' is the most readily understood as it behaves in much the same way that our universe does.{{wob ref|1244}} It is the natural world as we experience it with our senses, consisting of space and time and adhering to empirical scientific law.{{tes ref|12}} Unlike the Cognitive Realm, the Physical Realm is a three-dimensional plane.{{wob ref|1538}} The two Realms are not mapped perfectly to each other for this reason.{{wob ref|13234}} The cosmere is a single star cluster within the Physical Realm consisting of between fifty and one hundred stars,{{wob ref|9284}} though at least one person has tried to travel beyond that.{{wob ref|13336}} Travel between planets within the cluster can be achieved without using either of the other Realms through purely Physical FTL (faster-than-light) travel.{{wob ref|13061}}

The '''Cognitive Realm''' is the world of thought and perception.{{msh ref|2|1}} It is also referred to as the subastral, and is known locally on [[Roshar]] as '''[[Shadesmar]]''', though at least some academics of [[Silverlight]] have taken to using the term to refer to the entire Realm.{{wob ref|3010}} A planet's reflection in the Cognitive Realm is referred to as a subastral. The nature and appearance of objects in this Realm are shaped by the views of people and even the objects themselves. The environment itself changes from one world to the next, often exhibiting features characteristic of that world.{{wob ref|11688}} [[Investiture]], including that within souls, glows visibly within the Cognitive Realm.

Perception is a vital part of how the three versions of a person or an object interact with each other. The Spiritual Realm filters through the Cognitive Realm to get to the Physical Realm.{{wob ref|1823}} While the Spiritual Realm contains the ideal version of something, the Cognitive filter makes sure the Physical version matches their perception of what should be.{{wob ref|9441}} One of the ways this manifests is in healing. For example, until he swears his Fourth Ideal, [[Kaladin]] feels he deserves his slave brands, so they don’t heal. [[Lopen]], on the other hand, never viewed himself as disabled, so his arm grew back.{{wob ref|9441}} The application of this can extend to changing the body of a transgender person to match their identity or rejoining [[wikipedia:Conjoined twins|SiameseConjoined twins]] that were separated.{{wob ref|10913}}{{wob ref|1823}}

Perception is also important for how the Invested Arts interact with the three Realms. What a person thinks they can do often limits what they can actually do. For example, [[Shallan]] required ten heartbeats to summon [[Pattern]] as a [[Shardblade]], despite him being a living blade.{{wob ref|6988}} Perception makes using a [[soulstamp]] on an object easier or more difficult. The more an object is viewed as a whole, the easier it is to soulstamp.{{wob ref|9529}} Perception of an object can and does change over time. As an object changes owner or various ingredients are combined into a whole, people’s perception of the objects change.{{wob ref|9423}}{{wob ref|8784}} The transition does not happen instantaneously. There will be a period of time when the line is fuzzy and multiple perceptions of an object can be true.{{wob ref|9423}}

Under certain circumstances, the Realms will bend to the point where they are no longer separate and are instead connected by a [[perpendicularity]]. The most common cause of a perpendicularity is a high concentration of Investiture in either the Physical or Cognitive Realms—though this is harder to achieve in the Cognitive Realm—but other methods work as well.{{wob ref|8920}}{{au ref|Drominad}}{{wob ref|2687}} Because they are built out of Investiture, aperpendicularities perpendicularity would likelywill collapse if [[Nightblood]] wereis wieldedused into itsattack vicinity for a significant period of timeit.{{wob ref|12915}}{{book ref|sa4|111}}

The inspiration for Realmatic Theory comes from a number of real-world philosophies. Those philosophies include Plato’s[[Wikipedia: Plato| Plato]]’s [[wikipedia:theory of forms|theory of the forms]], [[wikipedia:Shinto|Shinto]] beliefs,{{wob ref|8784}}, and [[wikipedia:Baruch Spinoza|Spinoza]]. Plato’s theory of forms is the original concept for the Realms. The theory of forms states that the physical world is merely an imitation of the ideal essences of all things. This true ideal matches up with the Spiritual Realm, and the human perception of ideals matches up with the Cognitive Realm.{{wob ref|4051}} While Plato’s philosophy only includes two forms, Brandon uses three. The idea that everything has a spren comes from Shinto beliefs.{{wob ref|13834}} Spinoza’s influence is in God being in everything and everything being made of one substance. Brandon’s interpretation of this is the Shards’ Investiture permeating everything in the cosmere. Other, more minor influences include [[wikipedia:Carl Jung|Jung]] in the concept of Connection,{{wob ref|4051}} idealism,{{wob ref|12344}}, and the [[wikipedia:Ship of Theseus|ship of Theseus]] thought experiment.{{wob ref|3913}} The large number of philosophical influences on Realmatic Theory and the cosmere is because Brandon finds philosophy interesting. He took many philosophy classes in college.{{wob ref|12344}}

Realmatic Theory was first used in ''[[Dragonsteel]]'', Brandon’s second book set in the cosmere.{{wob ref|14028}} The opening chapters include someone learning about the three Realms in a classroom.{{wob ref|11996}} As Brandon wrote more cosmere books, he noticed patterns in the themes. He began to create a common energy source for the magic systems to use. Linking the books and creating the cosmere grew naturally from those themes and connections.{{wob ref|14028}} Within the currently published cosmere, the term Realmatic Theory has only been used oncetwice, once by the [[Ire]] and once by [[Shalash]].{{msh ref|5|2}}{{book ref|sa4|17}} Khriss has used the phrase "Realmatic Transition" in the ''[[Words of Radiance]]'' [[Ars Arcanum]] to describe the [[Surge]] of [[Surge#Transportation|Transportation]].{{book ref|sa2|part=ars}} She also used the phrase "Realmic transition" once in the essay on the [[Taldain system]] to describe how [[sand mastery]] works.{{au ref|taldain}} The difference, if any, between these two terms is as yet unknown.