The Orthographic & Perspective/Objective Realism & Subjective Idealism.

Reality, as we perceive it, is a tapestry woven with the threads of our own subjectivity.
 

A year ago, while 3D modeling, I stumbled upon a question that shook the foundation of my understanding of reality: how can our subjective, perceptually dependent reality — which we view through perspective viewports — exist independently of an objective one, the orthographic viewport? This question, left unanswered, sparked an existential crisis that lasted over a year. The aforementioned has led to this revelation (the article you're about to read).

The orthographic viewport:

From the 3D perspective, the orthographic viewport projects a 2D capture of the object in which all parallel lines remain parallel. The orthographic is independent of perception; the image does not depend on the distance between the viewer and the object, nor does it depend on the focal length. 

From my perspective, which isn't very different, the orthographic viewport is one in which objects exist in their original state, unaffected by perception. The orthographic is the definition of their existence. An object's original state is in the orthographic, everything in the perspective viewport is dependent on the orthographic. Without the orthographic, there would not be a perspective viewport. 

The perspective viewport:

Quite the opposite of the orthographic, the perspective viewport is entirely dependent on the perceiver; the focal length and the distance affect the image perceived. The image above may not look that different from the orthographic one, but if we decrease the focal length and distance, we get something that looks like this:

This is a key concept in photography. A general understanding of focal length and distance is essential here. 

Now, in these 3D projects, the owner of the project has access to both the perspective and orthographic viewports. In the real world, each of us represents a unique perspective viewport. There are around 8 billion human perspective viewports around the world, as far as we know. Every living organism has access to one perspective viewport. Which raises the question, who has access to the orthographic of our universe?

One thing that I haven't mentioned about the orthographic is that this model of Natalie Portman is a singular object, which simplifies the orthographic and perspective dilemma. In the case that I had a 3D model of the entirety of the city Abu Dhabi, the perspective viewport will be limited to the field view of the viewer. The orthographic, on the other hand, will not. 

This presents a problem. If the orthographic is not perceived by anyone, it certainly does not exist. When we talk about viewports, the existence of one that isn't perceived removes any possibility of it existing. Because unlike the subjectiveness of this topic with physical objects, viewports, by definition, are perception mediums. If a viewport is not used, how can it be a viewport? Therefore, if no one has access to the orthographic of our universe, then there is none. 

This raises yet another question, how can a perspective viewport exist when there is no orthographic? The perspective viewports are entirely dependent on the orthographic, so how can our perspective viewports of the world exist when the orthographic does not? Isn't the orthographic the original and objective state of all objects? This could mean two things:

Either: The existence of the universe is dependent on our perception of it; it exists through our perception; if we did not perceive it, it would not exist. 

Or: The orthographic does not exist, thus an objective reality of the universe does not exist; our perception of it is subjective because it is virtual and personalized. 

The latter does not seem so logical. 

Light: Objective Realism & Subjective Idealism.

The orthographic might just be a mere gadget created to make the lives of those like architects and engineers easier — but — an analogy can be made to link this theoretical concept to two philosophical ideologies: Objective Realism & Subjective Idealism.

In the field of philosophical perspectives, The orthographic viewport can be compared to Objective Realism, while the perspective viewport compares to Subjective Idealism.

Objective Realism proposes that there is an external reality independent of our perception. It suggests that objects exist objectively, with their own inherent properties and qualities. Similarly, the orthographic viewport presents objects in their original state, unaffected by the perceiver's subjective experience. It represents an objective and fixed view, where parallel lines remain parallel, mirroring the idea of an external reality that exists beyond individual perception.

On the other hand, Subjective Idealism suggests that reality is subjective and constructed by our minds. It argues that our perception shapes our understanding of the world, and there is no objective reality independent of our consciousness. This perspective aligns with the notion of the perspective viewport, where the image perceived is dependent on the perceiver's focal length, distance, and individual experience. Each person's perspective is unique, representing their subjective interpretation of reality.

Just as Objective Realism suggests that objects exist objectively regardless of our perception, the orthographic viewport portrays objects in their original state, detached from individual perspectives. In contrast, Subjective Idealism proposes that reality is subjective and constructed through our perception, much like the perspective viewport, where the image is influenced by the perceiver's characteristics and subjective interpretation.

This analogy waters down the existential-crisis-fueling debate of a nonexistent orthographic. The exploration of the orthographic and perspective viewports in the context of 3D modeling can be extended to philosophical perspectives on reality. We may not have a definite orthographic viewport, however, the absence of one does not invalidate the significance of the exploration. Instead, it opens up intriguing avenues for contemplating the nature of reality and the role of perception in shaping our understanding of it.

The concept of the orthographic viewport serves as an analogy for the existence of an objective reality beyond our subjective experiences. While we may not possess a direct access to an all-encompassing and fixed viewpoint of the universe, this analogy raises the question of the possibility of an objective reality that exists independently of our individual perspectives.

The subjective nature of the perspective viewport is a reflection of the diversity and uniqueness of human experiences. Each individual perceives the world through their own subjective lens, influenced by factors such as personal beliefs, cultural background, and cognitive biases. This subjective interpretation of reality aligns with the philosophical stance of Subjective Idealism, where reality is shaped by the mind and its interpretations.

But then again, can we ever truly grasp an objective reality, or are we forever bound to subjective interpretations? And, does the absence of an orthographic viewport imply that reality is merely a construct of our minds?  The subjectiveness of the universe leaves us with profound ambiguity, leaving these questions without a definitive, objective answer.