Metaphysics

Metaphysics is a scientific branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world that encompasses it. Researchers of metaphysics study the nature and properties of dimensions, planes, and time; the planar substrate that comprises reality and planar energies; the passage of souls and nature of life, death, spirits, and undeath; and the fundamental nature of deities, magic, and other occult powers distinct from the practices of the magical traditions.

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Planar physics

The mortals of Golarion have several philosophies that attempt to describe the metaphysical relationships of the planes to each other. The most prominent is known as the orthodox scheme, or arcane tradition, which envisions the planes as nesting spheres of realities with the Inner Sphere at the center and Outer Sphere as the infinite exterior. In this model, the planes Creation's Forge and the Void govern the powers of creation and destruction in opposition to one another.

An alternative philosophy, known as the esoteric tradition or the ancient wisdom, suggests that Creation's Forge and the Void are instead complementary to each other, serving as the source and destination of all creation and forming a cycle that is temporally and dimensionally infinite. All forms of life in this cycle are part of the monad, a transcendental oneness that unites all souls into a single spiritual existence, with aeons existing closest to the source of creation and mortal souls existing further away. This tradition minimizes the role of the Outer Sphere as well as the Elemental and Transitive planes.

Essences

Planes are comprised of planar essences, and scholars consider four fundamental essences that comprise reality: matter, spirit, mind, and life.

Alignment

The concept of alignment is most directly applied in the metaphysical composition of planes, and by extensions outsiders and other creatures and manifestations strongly associated with aligned planes. A soul's alignment heavily factors into its path on the River of Souls as part of its afterlife.

Holiness and unholiness

The competing duality of holiness and unholiness is closely related to alignment and defines the perpetual conflict between deities, their associated celestial and fiendish beings, and their mortal followers.

Patrons and practitioners

• Count Haserton Lowls IV, who patronized many researchers of metaphysics with large grants
• Wayangs, who incorporate concepts of transmigration from Sangpotshi and Pharasma as part of their religion
• Yithians, whose study of metaphysics led to their discovery of mental projection and possession across both time and space

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References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.