The Hegel Scale of Reality

Matter consists of molecules, which consist of atoms, which consist of elementary particles. Matter has certain properties, like volume, density, mass, or temperature, which is reflected in the properties of the elementary particles it is made up of.

The Fifth World inhabits a Gödel's constructible universe, but is intrinsically connected to the concept space of a Hegelian universe (Hegel Space) that is superimposed with it. This means that concepts, like matter, can be disassembled into smaller parts, like filaments, crumbs, and 'pats. Consequently, the science that deals with this kind of thing is called 'Pataphysics.

The "realness" of a 'pat can be measured just like the mass of a quark. The more real a concept is, the more static it remains. At strong values, facts remain facts. Not just the laws of physics become more solid, even a task as human as lying becomes harder if reality insists on remaining unchanged. On the other side are weak Hegel values, whose lack of influence on the world means that reality gradually breaks down, becomes unstable and unpredictable, and may stop existing altogether.
The conventional way of measuring realness is by use of the Hegel scale, which is logarithmic. "Standard" reality has been defined as the value of 1hr. Values of up to 5 Kilohegels (5000hr) have been measured, as well as 3 Millihegels (0.00003hr) on the other end of the scale.

Selected Hegel Values

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Hegel Value	Description, Situation	Notes
<0.00000001	Breakdown of Consistence	Theoretical Hegel limit - observer state ceases to exist below this value, making the handling and observing of any matter impossible. Defined as less than one billionth of reality.
0.0000005	True Hegel Vacuum (theoretical)	Esteemed value of the center of the Durbeam Gateway.
0.00003	Lowest value recorded under laboratory conditions	DoE Laboratories, City Seven South.
0.0005	Lowest value recorded in nature	Durbeam, southern Kaskada, just before it was nuked by the State Council.
0.32	Lowest value survived by a human being	Special Inspector Seredszus during the Sun War, only survivor of his squadron - underwent severe shock and reality failure for several seconds, saved by metaphysicians at the General Institute for Pseudoscience, City Two.
<0.50	Surreality Threshold	Lowest value generally deemed safe for temporary exposure.
0.88	Median value at City Seven South outskirts	Border of the City Seven South Hegel Dome - Measured at Beagle Point, northern C7S.
1.00	Ideal Reality	Theoretical default state of the universe.
1.12	Median value in central City One	Center of the City One Hegel Dome - Measured at Amnesty Remembrance Square, Distractive District.
>2.00	Hyperreality Threshold	Highest value generally deemed uninhibitative for normal societal procedures.
11.90	Highest value recorded in nature	City One, Archives of the Department of Inspection.
>100.00	Static Reality Threshold	Physical matter becomes exponentially hard to alter after tdis point, "freezing" even concepts.
1000.00	Usual value of a commercially available Hegel Anchor	Values erode over time - unpowered Hegel Anchors need to.
5010.81	Highest value recorded under laboratory conditions	Doe Laboratories, City Seven South.
20099.98	Objective Truth	Theoretical value of a statement with complete objective truthfulness - no such statement has yet been found.
>21000.00	Singularity of Consistence	Theoretical Hegel limit - observer state must cease changing above this value.

In addition to the table above, the Secret Police uses a simplified system to describe Realness of subjects and locations:

Applied Hegel Sciences

Hegel Anchors

In the Fifth World, philosophy is a physical science, and often deals with direct causality. For example, Hegel Anchors are used to stabilize a certain environment and make it more real than it would otherwise be. They are used in scientific outposts of legacy communities in the Kaskadian Wastelands. Hegel Anchors are usually created using the Simple Method: An object of purely mathematical (and therefore easily provable) value, like a set square or a conversion table, is bombarded epistemologically with objectively true statements of increasing verbosity until the logical resonance of the targeted object has stabilized. The result is then decontaminated from possible destabilizing concepts that may have been brought in during construction and finally empirically sealed.

Normalcy Preservation

Main Article: Normalcy Preservation
There are ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Menaces to suppress the effects of the fading reality on civilization. They are not very successful.

Human Correlation

This is the big unsolved riddle of 'Pataphysics. Why are all major Kaskadian cities surrounded by Hegel domes? Is it because the humans of ancient times somehow managed to predict where reality would fail the least, hundreds of years into the future? Or is it because groups of humans in one spot make reality more stable? Is reality something malleable? Can reality failure be reversed The answer may surprise you.

Manifestation

Physically, metaphysically, 'pataphysically, philosophically, conceptually, epistemologically

Localization

Omnipresent

Type

Metaphysical, Elemental

Did you know?

• The Hegel value is measured on the Hegel-Reality Scale, abbreviated as hr. This is a physical scale, currently stored at City One University.
• The Ministry of Menaces is responsible for measuring your local Hegel values. You can also buy over-the-counter Hegel Scales in most apothecaries or from a Baker. Useful!

Vocabulary

• Hegel Crater: Defined as an area of at least 1km² with a consistent Hegel value of 0.1hr or lower. The largest Hegel Crater is the classified Durbeam Exclusion Zone, formally known as the city of Durbeam.
• Hegel Dome: Defined as an area of at least 1km² with a consistent Hegel value of 0.9hr or higher. The largest Hegel Dome is the Kaskadian capital of City One.
• Hegel Anchor: A device used to stabilize a small area and keep the Hegel value artificially high. Used in temporary shelters or vehicles (like airships) to protect the inhabitants from fading.