- 1,886
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Argument
Here's a little recap of what names in DMC represents: Names are a component of one's soul that can reshape reality on a whim if altered as we know which is also displayed with Temen-Ni-Guru requiring names to bridge through the gap between human world all the way to Demon World while tearing through the dimensional wall that has been placed between. These names precedes the universe they operate under and was there since the creation of Demon World altogether. Now frankly, these names assists one's soul and like some genetic codes, they mold themselves after the meaning of their names. That being said, a person's soul can exist even without it. In some cases, they don't even need it to function at all while in other cases they can barely move. Hence, it is not hard to understand that souls like a program that needs configuration file like names and are above these ideas in hierarchy as again, names are merely closest thing to their true substance (souls) more then their typical bodies or appearances. They are even considered textually metaphysical at occasions.Now, that sounds more akin to concept but there's also informational properties attached to it as well on a deeper layer:
- Names act as like genes to a soul. Genes or genetic codes for that matter are basically underlying information and the fundamental instructions that determine how an organism develops and expresses itself. They serve as the underlying blueprint which shapes characteristics, function and identity. Likewise, names appear to operate as informational templates for souls themselves, molding their nature according to the meaning they embody.
- Changing names is treated as changing the values of the world itself as names do not merely affect individual entities but alter the very definitions and meanings attached to reality. By changing a name, the value and nature of everything tied to it can also be reshaped which causes reality itself to conform with the newly established meaning.
Surprisingly, we also got a supplementary evidence for it within Peak of Combat where the Kirk's family sacrificed their souls in order to trap countless demons in a virtual realm which can be manipulated by them afterwards. And no, there is no reason to assume it isn't abstract as no typical realm can be manipulated and seal off conceptually abstract entities such as Demons. This is not a game or a software either since it was done in ancient times so virtual here means in metaphysical sense. And as the realm is physical but virtualized as its fundamental blocks, as we literally have people interacting with the structure in real world, it must be made out of information. For instance, we have Savior making near perfect replica of our world or literal realms composed of dreams that replicate our world but their nature is clearly stated either recreations or mental/dream world. However, nowhere was virtualization ever mentioned for them. Therefore, we can conclude that the use of virtualization here is deliberate rather than interchangeable with the other realms shown throughout the series.
Video Evidence:
Definition:
If you read the scan closely, you understand the demons are sealed through the sacrifice of souls which functions as a form of virtualization and entrapment comparable to information manipulation. The Kirk Family then further maintains and reinforces this seal by directly manipulating the realm as explicitly stated. Despite this, the "virtual" demons continue to rampage and degrade the realm until it begins to collapse, indicating adaptation and resistance to the imposed constraints. Hence, from here, we can witness multiple information-based interaction within a single system. Demon Hunters are then ultimately deployed to eliminate these demons and restore order to the realm.
In conclusion, information manipulation and resistance to it are depicted as baseline aspects of magic users, not exclusive abilities tied to any specific species or individual. This applies both to directly influencing the realm and to combat within it, including interacting with "virtual" beings while existing in a similarly constructed state. As such, the sacrifice of souls and the destruction of these demons further supports the idea that magic itself operates on an informational scale and thus, is capable of manipulating information.
Remember, magic is used to interact with and manipulate souls and names alike which further establishes relation with each other. For example, human female who once fell onto the underworld got her soul transformed into that of a Arachne named demon species via magic of the Demon World. There are many such feats along the way and is something that has been currently accepted by the wiki with the given hierarchy: Souls ~ Magic > Names
Conclusion
In typical fashion, the verse will receive:- Information Type 2 for Names as they contain the information as another aspect aside from concept, that passes down from heir to heir in similar analogy to genes. Manipulating names would thus be Information Manipulation.
- Information Manipulation for magic itself in its very nature as it is capable of being used without any exclusivity or specialty to any species or individual.
- Capability to improve manipulation and Resistance through Reactive Evolution via degrading the seal overtime through rampaging destruction.
- Abstract Existence type 1 (Concept and Information) for Demons via being composed of Names and again, souls by extension.
- Aspect 4 on NEPs for Argosax, Hellfilth and Void Mundus via being non-existent from spiritual sense.
Counterarguments
Q: Aren't both aspects for names extrapolated for the same thing?A: Not necessarily. The argument presented is not that both Concept and Information are derived from a single identical premise but that the verse attributes distinct characteristics to names that can support separate interpretations:
- Conceptual side: Names are repeatedly associated with terms such as "truth", "true nature" and are stated to alter the "value of the world" itself. This language concerns meaning, essence and definitional significance which are commonly associated with concepts.
- Informational side: Names are also described as moulds/templates analogous to genes, representing and shaping individuals. Such descriptions align with information functioning as structured templates or instructions that define states and characteristics.
Q: But Truth and essence can also contribute to IM2?
A: True but that depends heavily on the nature of the settings. In computational or simulation-based worlds, concepts such as truth, essence or true nature can be reducible to informational structures because reality itself is explicitly built on code or data. In such cases, those terms may simply describe underlying information.
However, that reduction is not automatic in metaphysical contexts. Terms such as truth, essence and true nature do not inherently default to informational definitions unless the setting explicitly establishes reality as fundamentally data-based. As historically treated, DMC has generally not been interpreted as a purely computational reality where all ontological properties reduce to information.
Votes
Agree: @Reiner04 (mod), @Random-Helper323 (mod) @Planck69 (admin) (tentatively agree)Neutral:
Disagree: @Vietthai96 (mod)
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