Metaphysics is an analysis of fundamental principles or of the absolute. Such lines of questioning might be directed at any worldview, whether it concerns our own actual world or fictional worlds. In my talk I want to inquire into the absolute of the Warhammer 40K universe, as the different factions see it.
In the first part of my talk, I will present a brief sketch of what exactly metaphysics is doing (in the real world), in the second part, I will review the fictional worldviews we encounter within the universe. Metaphysically or ontologically, there are several options on offer, some being dualist (accepting two basic, irreducible levels of reality), some monist (working with one principle, although of very different kinds).
The earlier T’au worldview for example, as well the (pre-heretical) Imperial Truth appear to be monist, namely materialist. They are, quite obviously wrong, although for very different reasons, one being honest ignorance, the other very dishonest subterfuge.
The basic current Imperial and Eldar metaphysics are more or less dualist, since they recognize two realms, the material and the immaterial, although their relationship is still not fully understood. Concerning our background knowledge, the immaterium appears as an additional dimension drawing its determination from the emotions of living, be-souled beings.
Finally, we can find sundry non-materialist monist factions, for example the Orcs, whose combined consciousness appears as a fundamental power all on its own, leading to a constructivist (or rather konstruktivist) metaphysics. There is, however, one other faction which propounds a monist metaphysics; when Guilliman enters the Garden of Nurgle, we hear a voice saying: “This realm is not real. Only will is real. And none may outmatch my will.” Is grimdark metaphysics Schopenhauerian in the end?
Author bio
Thomas Arnold is akademischer Rat at the Philosophisches Seminar in Heidelberg and he has just handed in his Habilitation on “Thematisation & Transcendence”. He co-organises the Warhammer Conferences.
