Difference between revisions of "User:Stargazer/Realmatic Theory"

<pre>{{magic

|related=[[Physical Realm]], [[Cognitive Realm]], [[Spiritual Realm]]

|universe=[[Cosmere]]

 

== Components ==

=== Physical Realm ===

{{for|Physical Realm}}

 

=== Cognitive Realm ===

{{for|Cognitive Realm}}

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}} 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.

 

 

One effect of existing in the Cognitive Realm seems to be unusual longevity, perhaps not aging while in there, allowing worldhoppers to appear in multiple books that take place hundreds of years apart. This attribute of the Cognitive Realm has not been confirmed.

=== Spiritual Realm ===

{{for|Spiritual Realm}}

 

== Interactions ==

=== Perception ===

 

 

=== Investiture ===

 

=== Perpendicularities ===

{{quote

|In general, perpendicularities are created by the presence of a Shard on the planet. The concentration of so much Investiture on the Cognitive and Physical Realms creates points of ... friction, where a kind of tunneling exists. At these points, Physical matter, Cognitive thought, and Spiritual essence become one&mdash;and a being can slide between Realms.

|[[Khriss]] on [[perpendicularity|perpendicularities]]{{au ref|Drominad}}

}}

 

Perpendicularities can be used to see into the Spiritual Realm and to transition between Realms,{{wob ref|10945}}{{wob ref|2687}} though someone has to know what the perpendicularity does in order to use it.{{wob ref|9665}}{{wob ref|2687}} This requirement gets weird for non-sapient things, but a creature like an [[Aviar]] could reasonably transition between Realms with a perpendicularity.{{wob ref|8906}} Perpendicularities are the most common method [[worldhopper]]s use to transition between the Realms, but they are not the only method.{{wob ref|2687}}

 

=== Shards ===

While the Shards of Adonalsium exist primarily in the Spiritual Realm,{{wob ref|6304}} their immense power has notable effects on all three of the Realms. Perhaps most significantly, Realmatic interactions between a Shard and a planet are what define the structure of any Invested Arts associated with that Shard on that planet.{{wob ref|6072}} Shards can consciously make some changes to this structure,{{wob ref|5971}}{{wob ref|7307}} but the extent to which they can interfere is limited.{{wob ref|8160}} If a Shard used their power to create the planet in the first place (as [[Preservation]] and [[Ruin]] did with [[Scadrial]]), they will be able to exercise more control.{{wob ref|5293}}

 

 

=== Scadrial ===

On [[Scadrial]], the ancient [[Terris]] were aware of Realmatic Theory and included it in their religion.{{wob ref|1253}} This knowledge may have come from experimentation with [[Feruchemy]], which organizes its metals into quadrants based on which Realms they affect.{{wob ref|10046}} Their research into Realmatic Theory appears to have been an ongoing affair; when he met [[Alendi]], the [[Worldbringer]] [[Kwaan]] was studying the Cognitive aspects of trees.{{wob ref|3968}} Much of this knowledge appears to have been lost when [[Rashek]] destroyed the Terris religion,{{book ref|mb2|12}} though at least some of it was retained by the First Generation of the [[kandra]].{{book ref|mb3|71}}

 

 

=== Sel ===

The people of [[Sel]] have developed the most advanced knowledge of Realmatic Theory of any planet in the cosmere.{{wob ref|2811}} The [[MaiPon]] learned much about Realmatic Theory and how it relates to [[Forgery]] by study and observation{{wob ref|2103}} and are aware of concepts like Identity and Connection.{{tes ref|12}} The [[Ire]], and perhaps other pre-[[Reod]] [[Elantrian]]s, similarly had an advanced understanding of Realmatic Theory.{{msh ref|5|2}}{{wob ref|5783}}

 

The inspiration for Realmatic Theory comes from a number of real-world philosophies. Those philosophies include 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}}

 

 

== Notes ==