Depth

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The word channel itself pertains to definiteness and its depth pertains to determinate-ness.

All nodes have a 1st consideration in which an optional word channel can assign an aspect of what that node is, but its depth (and what it can do) is determined by whether the node has an incoming word channel that is itself, from a manifest translation. 

• If it has an incoming word channel from a manifest translation, then it has manifest depth.
• If it has an incoming word channel from an obscure or shadow translation, then it has shadow depth.
• If it does not have any incoming word channel, then it has obscure depth.

There are some important corollaries to be drawn from these definitions:

1. Any manifest node that has a self-referencing word [w] channel must also be a translation in the 2nd consideration in order to self-reference, which means that it must also have an incoming variety [v] channel. Thus it is definite by means of its word channel and determinate by means of its manifest word channel. This pattern is shown at the bottom of the diagram.
2. Any obscure translation node in the 2nd consideration cannot have a word [w] channel by definition. Thus it is indefinite by the lack of a word channel and indeterminate by the lack of a manifest word channel.  This pattern is shown at the top of the diagram.
3. Any shadow translation in the 2nd consideration must have a word [w] channel, otherwise it would be obscure, but it may not have a self-referencing word[w] channel, otherwise it would be manifest. Thus it is definite by the presence of a word channel and indeterminate by the lack of a manifest word channel. This pattern is shown across the center of the diagram.
4. So what does it mean to be indefinite and determinate? This can also be stated as the representation of potential gain of function. We have already said that this is represented by the shadow depth but how? There would have to be a state in which there was no word channel, representing indefiniteness and also a manifest word channel representing determinate-ness. However, such an outcome violates the Law of non-contradiction because a word channel cannot be both non-existent and manifestly existent at the same time. ADEPT resolves this logical dilemma by acknowledging that indefiniteness precludes any evaluation of determinate-ness. If an existence is not definite, then its determinate “effect” is assumed to be negative. An explicitly negative statement of definiteness can conversely be understood as a general positive statement of definiteness that has indeterminate effect. Incidentally, this is analogous to Immanuel Kant’s treatment of the judgement of Infinite quality. Because it has already been shown in the previous corollary that an indeterminate effect can be expressed as a shadow depth, that is how this situation is handled in ADEPT. Thus the pattern of relationship for the representation of a potential gain of function, or indefinite determination, is a shadow translation of the 2nd consideration found in the word [w] channel. The shadow translation in this case would make a negative statement as to definiteness such as “non-green”. Such a negative statement would correspond to an infinitely positive statement of everything that is “non-green”. This positive statement would then be handled as a shadow translation representing the potential gain of function of the indefinite yet determinate concept of “non-green”.  The pattern is also shown across the center of the diagram.

If the outcome of corollary 4 seems ambiguous - that potential gain of function, potential loss of function and real loss of function are treated as logically indistinguishable outcomes - that's good!  This is exactly the point that needs to be made!  The shadow depth becomes the logical definition of ambiguity and its opposite, manifest depth, becomes the logical definition of deterministic certainty.

The resolution of certainty and ambiguity into recognizable patterns for the ADEPT notation is essential metaphysical work. Although it can be admittedly difficult to grasp these concepts, simply knowing the patterns of depth is generally sufficient to begin applying ADEPT. So to restate the patterns of Depth more simply and memorably...