The 4 Axes of the Spectrum of Reality

An expanded model adding two crucial dimensions to the basic framework. Axis 1: Material-Ideal (stuff vs. mind). Axis 2: Objective-Subjective (independent vs. dependent). Axis 3: Absolute-Relative (reality is one way for everyone vs. reality varies with perspective). Axis 4: Deterministic-Indeterministic (everything is caused vs. some things are random or free). These four axes create sixteen metaphysical positions. Classical physics assumes material, objective, absolute, deterministic. Quantum mechanics suggests material, objective (debated), relative (to measurement), indeterministic. Idealism might be ideal, objective (if minds share ideas), absolute, indeterministic (if mind is free). The 4 Axes reveal that metaphysical debates often confuse these dimensions—arguing about determinism when the real disagreement is about objectivity.

The 4 Axes of the Spectrum of Reality "You think free will is the only issue. The 4 Axes show it's deeper: are you material or ideal? Objective or subjective? Absolute or relative? Deterministic or free? Four axes, sixteen positions, and free will is just one. You can be a materialist who believes in free will (somehow) or an idealist who's a determinist (strange but possible). The axes give you the full space of possibilities."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 6 Axes of the Spectrum of Reality

A comprehensive model adding dimensions of structure and access. Axis 1: Material-Ideal. Axis 2: Objective-Subjective. Axis 3: Absolute-Relative. Axis 4: Deterministic-Indeterministic. Axis 5: Continuous-Discrete (reality is smooth vs. pixelated/quantized). Axis 6: Manifest-Hidden (reality is as it appears vs. reality is deeper than appearances). These six axes generate sixty-four metaphysical positions. Physics suggests material, objective, relative, indeterministic, discrete (quantum), hidden (underlying math). Everyday experience suggests material, objective, absolute, deterministic, continuous, manifest. The 6 Axes reveal that science and common sense occupy very different positions—and that's why they conflict.

The 6 Axes of the Spectrum of Reality "You trust your senses. The 6 Axes show why physics disagrees: your senses say continuous, manifest, absolute. Physics says discrete, hidden, relative. Same reality, completely different axes positions. Neither is wrong—they're just describing different levels. The axes help you see why the conflict isn't about facts—it's about which axes you're using."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 8 Axes of the Spectrum of Reality

A detailed model adding dimensions of time and causality. Axis 1: Material-Ideal. Axis 2: Objective-Subjective. Axis 3: Absolute-Relative. Axis 4: Deterministic-Indeterministic. Axis 5: Continuous-Discrete. Axis 6: Manifest-Hidden. Axis 7: Temporal-Eternal (reality is in time vs. outside time). Axis 8: Causal-Acausal (everything has a cause vs. some things are uncaused). These eight axes create 256 metaphysical positions. The block universe of special relativity is material, objective, absolute (spacetime is absolute), deterministic, continuous, hidden (fourth dimension not manifest), eternal (all times equally real), causal. Experienced time is temporal, causal, manifest—and conflicts with the block universe. The 8 Axes demonstrate that the "nature of time" debate is really about multiple axes simultaneously.

The 8 Axes of the Spectrum of Reality "You think time is simple. The 8 Axes show otherwise: is time real or illusion? Is it continuous or discrete? Is everything simultaneous (eternal) or flowing (temporal)? Is it causal or acausal? Four axes just for time. And that's before you get to the other four axes about matter, mind, objectivity. Time isn't simple—time is eight questions disguised as one."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 12 Axes of the Spectrum of Reality

An ultra-fine-grained model adding dimensions of consciousness and value. Building on the 8 Axes, we add: Axis 9: Physical-Mental (reality includes mind or not). Axis 10: Value-Neutral (reality has intrinsic value vs. value is projected). Axis 11: Purposeful-Purposeless (reality has telos vs. blind). Axis 12: Finite-Infinite (reality is bounded vs. unbounded). These twelve axes generate 4096 metaphysical positions. Scientific materialism says physical, value-neutral, purposeless, finite (maybe infinite universe, but bounded in other ways). Spiritual worldviews often say mental (or includes mind), value-laden, purposeful, infinite. The 12 Axes reveal that the conflict between science and spirituality isn't one debate—it's twelve. And different spiritual traditions occupy different positions on each axis.

The 12 Axes of the Spectrum of Reality "You want to know if the universe has meaning. The 12 Axes ask: meaning as in value (axis 10)? Purpose (axis 11)? Mind (axis 9)? Infinity (axis 12)? Each axis gives a different kind of meaning. Science says no to most—but maybe yes to value (beauty of cosmos) even if no to purpose. The axes don't give a single answer—they give you a map of where meaning might live, even in a purposeless universe."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 16 Axes of the Spectrum of Reality

The ultimate model, adding the final dimensions of ultimate ground and epistemic access. Building on the 12 Axes, we add: Axis 13: Grounded-Ungrounded (reality rests on something vs. brute fact all the way down). Axis 14: Necessary-Contingent (reality must be this way vs. could have been otherwise). Axis 15: Knowable-Unknowable (reality can be understood vs. exceeds comprehension). Axis 16: One-Many (reality is unified vs. irreducibly plural). These sixteen axes generate 65,536 potential positions—enough to capture every metaphysical system, every religious worldview, every scientific cosmology, every philosophical speculation. The 16 Axes of the Spectrum of Reality reveal that the question "what is real?" isn't one question but sixteen—and every answer is a choice on each axis. The 16 Axes don't tell you which position is correct—they give you a language for understanding what any position actually claims. Every worldview is a choice on sixteen dimensions. The 16 Axes are the map of that choice space—the ultimate tool for understanding what you believe, what others believe, and what's really at stake when worldviews collide.

The 16 Axes of the Spectrum of Reality "You want to know if God is real. The 16 Axes ask: which God? Material or ideal? Objective or subjective? Absolute or relative? Deterministic? Continuous? Manifest? Eternal? Causal? Physical or mental? Value-laden? Purposeful? Infinite? Grounded? Necessary? Knowable? One or many? Sixteen questions, and every religion gives different answers. The 16 Axes don't answer whether God exists—they give you the vocabulary to ask what kind of God anyone is even talking about. And without that vocabulary, you're not even having the same conversation."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 2 Axes of the Spectrum of Metaphysics

A foundational model for understanding metaphysical systems along two fundamental dimensions. The first axis runs from Materialism (reality is fundamentally physical—matter, energy, particles) to Idealism (reality is fundamentally mental—consciousness, ideas, spirit). The second axis runs from Monism (reality is one substance or principle) to Pluralism (reality consists of many fundamental kinds). These two axes create four basic metaphysical orientations: materialist-monism (physicalism: everything is matter), materialist-pluralism (multiple kinds of physical stuff), idealist-monism (Advaita Vedanta: all is consciousness), idealist-pluralism (Leibniz: many mental substances). The model reveals that metaphysics isn't a single debate—it's a choice about what fundamentally exists and how many kinds of fundamental things there are.

The 2 Axes of the Spectrum of Metaphysics "You say everything is physical. That's materialism. But is everything one kind of physical stuff (monism) or many kinds (pluralism)? The 2 Axes ask: are you a materialist monist like Spinoza, or a materialist pluralist like most scientists? Same materialism, different metaphysics. The axes give you the next question."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026

The 4 Axes of the Spectrum of Metaphysics

An expanded model adding two crucial dimensions to the basic framework. Axis 1: Materialism-Idealism (matter vs. mind). Axis 2: Monism-Pluralism (one vs. many). Axis 3: Realism-Antirealism (reality exists independently vs. reality depends on mind/language). Axis 4: Atomism-Holism (reality consists of fundamental parts vs. wholes are primary). These four axes create sixteen metaphysical positions. Scientific realism is materialist, pluralist (many particles), realist, atomist (particles fundamental). Quantum holism might be materialist, monist (field), realist, holist (wholes primary). Idealism is idealist, could be monist or pluralist, could be realist (ideas independent) or antirealist (ideas depend on larger Mind). The 4 Axes reveal that metaphysical positions are defined by clusters of commitments.

The 4 Axes of the Spectrum of Metaphysics "You think you're just a realist. The 4 Axes ask: realist about what? Material or ideal? One or many? Atomist or holist? Scientific realism is very different from Platonic realism, even though both are realist. The axes show you what kind of realist you actually are—or whether you've even thought about it."

by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026