by Miyel of Amber
A question that plagues the minds of many sentient beings is the nature of the universe. Until recently, our universe consisted of two central points of existence, the Pattern and the Logrus. Amber and the Courts of Chaos are merely manifestations of these artifacts of power. In between these two points lay shadows. For the sake of this article I will only be considering this universe that we had previously thought of as unique and singular.
Contention over the number of shadows that exist is one of the main conflicting points upon which two sides disagree upon. Those who claim that there are an infinite number of shadows perhaps do so because they don't wish to contemplate the nature of the universe. If they convince themselves that there are an infinite variations to shadows, then there is no need to understand the universe, for they would never be able to truly succeed at their endeavour. Others are overwhelmed by the vast numbers of shadows out there. To them, it seems that the universe is infinite.
Making a few basic assumptions, I will attempt to prove that their are a finite number of unique shadows. Now there are two main theories about the nature of shadows. Either they are created from our minds, becoming realities when we wish to visit them, or they existed from the very beginning, when the Pattern was created.
First I shall deal with creation theory. With this theory, the most important factor are Amberites and Chaosites. From these people, and them alone, do shadows spring from. If there are a finite number of Amberites and Chaosites, and they live for a finite time, then it follows that there must also be a finite number of shadows. We do not live for an infinte amount of time. This can be easily proved by the mutiple deaths that occurred during the Pattern Fall War. Since we don't live infinite lives, then there can not be an infinite number of us. Sometime in the future our kind will become extinct. So assuming that the creation theory is correct, then there is a finite number of shadows.
With the existence theory, we must examine more in depth thoughts. The main assumption I must make is a rather big one. Still, most Amberites and Chaosites will agree that they have likewise made this assumption. The basic nature of an existence universe is that there are two central points upon which each shadow derives their characteristics. Thus each shadow is related, albeit sometimes minutely, to either Amber or Chaos or a combination of both. Upon this assumption I can prove that there are a finite number of unique shadows. In order to prove that there are a finite number of shadows, then we must assume that there are no duplicate shadows. This I can not reasonably assume, thus we will narrow our statement to 'unique'.
There is a finite number of variations in nature if there is a finite number of objects. In any given shadow there are a finite number of objects. Shadows are not infinite in nature. They have disernable boundaries. We can enclose a shadow within itself, and place it in another location. Likewise there are a finite number of objects in Amber. Though we can't manipulate it as easily as shadows, it still has boundaries. Now I'll prove that there are a finite variations on the actions that these objects can perform. Let's take an example of a fencing match. At a given moment, there can be a couple general choices of action. For simplicity sake we will limit them to parrying and attacking. So our fencer decides to parry an attack. Now he can use several different types of parries. Each of them has a unique body movement. Our fencer decides to parry in four. Each individual has a unique way of executing this particular parry. One may flex his wrist a little more, or another may hold the parry slightly farther away from their body. Going down another abstraction level further, each individual never exactly repeats his form of the parry. It is almost physically impossible to duplicate an action.
With this example we can go further and further down in the causes of variations. But for each level of abstraction, there are only a finite number of actions that one can conduct. With the fencing match, at the highest there are only two choices. The next level holds exponentionally more and so forth. Thus there would be an infinite number of actions if their were an infinite number of abstraction levels you could travel down. Fortunately this is not the case. There comes a point where you reach the level of the fundemental building blocks. How do I prove that there is a fundemental building block? Going from smaller and smaller blocks of matter means that your size, will become closer and closer to 0. In fact, you can represent this by an equation: size = 1/n ; where n is the number of abstraction levels down. The further down you go, the smaller the size gets. Now if you assume that there are an infinite number of abstraction levels, meaning that there is an infinitely small block, then you run into a problem. Just plug your assumption into the equation. n = infinity. So size = 0, since 1/infinity is 0. If the basic building block was zero, then how could any matter exist at all? Adding together building blocks still gets you nothing. Since we know that this is not the case, then there must exist a fundemental building block of matter that is bigger than zero and thus, a finite number of abstraction levels.
If there exist a finite number of actions that an object can do and there are a finite number of objects, then there are a finite number of variations that can exist. Shadows derive their variations from two points, the Courts of Chaos and Amber. Thus it follows that there can only be a finite number of unique shadows. This is not to suggest that the number of shadows is in any way comprehensible. The kinds of variations that one being can have on one's environment are staggering. Each slight change in how it reacts to a situation, each eyeblink that flashes a half second too late, or each grain of sand it disperses in a different direction walking along a beach can be the basis for a different shadow. The point that I'm making is that though there is an enormous number of shadows, there isn't an infinite amount. The irony of our situation is that the more we come to understand our environment, to comprehend its nature, another aspect of the universe is flashed in our face. The discovery of alternate universes connected to us by Pattern Gates throws into havoc all the previous ideas we had of our own universe. Does there exist a truer Pattern and Logrus, of which our universe is merely a shadow? Or are these universes only created by other Patterns within our own universe? All that we can be sure of, in this possibly infinite universe, is that our own universe has a finite number of unique shadows.