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So Astral Forms in Marvel are already accepted as Type 3 concepts, but after looking at various facets of their nature throughout Marvel, I believe that they are in fact Type 1 concepts.
Thus, it seems clear that Astral Forms (as well as the Astral Plane) are Type 1 Concepts due to meeting all of the following criteria:
Such concepts are completely independent from the part of reality they govern, except maybe of other concepts of this nature. These concepts shape all of reality within their area of influence and at whatever level that area exists in, and everything in it "participates" in these concepts. For example, a circular object is circular because it is "participating" in the concept of "circle-ness". In this way, the alteration of these concepts will change every object of the concept across all of their area of influence, while the opposite wouldn't affect the concept.
And for reference, here's the current explanation(s) for Astral Forms being conceptual:
Loki referred to his Astral form as his Ethereal Ego, which, asides from being likely in reference to the Freudian concept of the psychological ego, is described in a later comic as being one's conception of self. Silver Surfer referred to his soul as his metaphysical essence, or rather "the essence of what is [him]"[25]. A soul contains one's memories, personality, and all aspects of who they are. An astral form is one's "spirit identity".
Further support for this, at least for users of magic, is how it is already accepted that a sorcerer's soul contains a sizable portion of their mystical power, with magic in Marvel being already accepted as a Type 1 concept on its own.
Thus, Astral Forms in Marvel are Type 1 Concepts instead of Type 3, which mainly just bumps up their Abstract Existence as well as the NPI & Concept Manipulation potency of affecting them.
As a minor thing, here's a scan of the mind, soul, and "essential life force" all being the same in Marvel that I would like to add to the Astral Form page as support for stuff that's already there, like Life Manipulation as well as mind and soul being the same in Marvel.
- Independent: Per what is both already accepted and stated on the current blog, astral forms exist on the Astral Plane, which is above the standard universe and is entirely outside of standard space and time.
- Universal Concepts: They are already accepted as Type 3 concepts, but there is more to Astral Forms than just that. For example, there is this for both the nature of the mind and the soul (which the Astral Form is both of):
- Consciousness is shaping the universe, minds are expanding the universe itself and building physics and mathematics.
- When souls die, they unite with the universe, like diamonds sparkling in the landscape of the space-time.
- The universe itself is a consciousness that tries to understand itself, it will grow as long as we continue to evolve, and will only stop when we finally understand ourselves, and the universe contains no concepts by its very nature, even if it contains truth it still needs knowledge because it itself is consciousness, but from the consciousness of those who live in it, it acquires such concepts and is formed.
- All scans are from "Fantastic Four #532"
- Hell itself is always growing with each new soul, changing and adapting itself. Always changing like a mirror of the past, from "Mighty Valkyries Vol. 1 #4"
- All souls also contain one's life force, which is a power described as "pure life itself, an infinite totality beautiful beyond comprehension-a power capable of shaping or shaking a universe", from "Doctor Strange Vol. 2 #45.
- The Astral Plane is the Realm of Idea, from "Legion of X #3"
Thus, it seems clear that Astral Forms (as well as the Astral Plane) are Type 1 Concepts due to meeting all of the following criteria:
Such concepts are completely independent from the part of reality they govern, except maybe of other concepts of this nature. These concepts shape all of reality within their area of influence and at whatever level that area exists in, and everything in it "participates" in these concepts. For example, a circular object is circular because it is "participating" in the concept of "circle-ness". In this way, the alteration of these concepts will change every object of the concept across all of their area of influence, while the opposite wouldn't affect the concept.
And for reference, here's the current explanation(s) for Astral Forms being conceptual:
Loki referred to his Astral form as his Ethereal Ego, which, asides from being likely in reference to the Freudian concept of the psychological ego, is described in a later comic as being one's conception of self. Silver Surfer referred to his soul as his metaphysical essence, or rather "the essence of what is [him]"[25]. A soul contains one's memories, personality, and all aspects of who they are. An astral form is one's "spirit identity".
Further support for this, at least for users of magic, is how it is already accepted that a sorcerer's soul contains a sizable portion of their mystical power, with magic in Marvel being already accepted as a Type 1 concept on its own.
Thus, Astral Forms in Marvel are Type 1 Concepts instead of Type 3, which mainly just bumps up their Abstract Existence as well as the NPI & Concept Manipulation potency of affecting them.
As a minor thing, here's a scan of the mind, soul, and "essential life force" all being the same in Marvel that I would like to add to the Astral Form page as support for stuff that's already there, like Life Manipulation as well as mind and soul being the same in Marvel.
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