When comparing alternative courses of action, modern military decision makers often must consider both the military effectiveness and the ethical consequences of the available alternatives. The basis, design, calibration, and performance of a principles-based computational model of ethical considerations in military decision making are reported in this article. The relative ethical violation (REV) model comparatively evaluates alternative military actions based upon the degree to which they violate contextually relevant ethical principles. It is based on a set of specific (...) ethical principles deemed by philosophers and ethicists to be relevant to military courses of action. A survey of expert and non-expert human decision makers regarding the relative ethical violation of alternative actions for a set of specially designed calibration scenarios was conducted to collect data that was used to calibrate the REV model. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the survey showed that people, even experts, disagreed greatly amongst themselves regarding the scenarios’ ethical considerations. Despite this disagreement, two significant results emerged. First, after calibration the REV model performed very well in terms of replicating the ethical assessments of human experts for the calibration scenarios. The REV model outperformed an earlier model that was based on tangible consequences rather than ethical principles, that earlier model performed comparably to human experts, the experts outperformed human non-experts, and the non-experts outperformed random selection of actions. All of these performance comparisons were measured quantitatively and confirmed with suitable statistical tests. Second, although humans tended to value some principles over others, none of the ethical principles involved—even the principle of not harming civilians—completely overshadowed all of the other principles. (shrink)

In this executive summary, I present the main points of an emerging framework for integrating physics and phenomenology into a unified theory, in an attempt to solve the Hard Problem of consciousness. By means of analytical philosophy, I synthesize insights from evolutionary psychology, quantum mechanics, theory of computation, and phenomenological studies on the nature of consciousness to produce a theory that incorporates physics, computation, and consciousness into a coherent description of the nature of reality.

One of the main motivations for having a compositional semantics is the account of the productivity of natural languages. Formal languages are often part of the account of productivity, i.e., of how beings with finite capaci- ties are able to produce and understand a potentially infinite number of sen- tences, by offering a model of this process. This account of productivity con- sists in the generation of proofs in a formal system, that is taken to represent the way speakers grasp (...) the meaning of an indefinite number of sentences. The informational basis is restricted to what is represented in the lexicon. This constraint is considered as a requirement for the account of productivity, or at least of an important feature of productivity, namely, that we can grasp auto- matically the meaning of a huge number of complex expressions, far beyond what can be memorized. However, empirical results in psycholinguistics, and especially particular patterns of ERP, show that the brain integrates informa- tion of different sources very fast, without any felt effort on the part of the speaker. This shows that formal procedures do not explain productivity. How- ever, formal models are still useful in the account of how we get at the seman- tic value of a complex expression, once we have the meanings of its parts, even if there is no formal explanation of how we get at those meanings. A practice-oriented view of modeling gives an adequate interpretation of this re- sult: formal compositional semantics may be a useful model for some ex- planatory purposes concerning natural languages, without being a good model for dealing with other explananda. (shrink)

The thesis of this paper is that Information, Cognition and a Principle of Existence are intrinsically structured in the quantum model of reality. We reach such evidence by using the Clifford algebra. We analyze quantization in some traditional cases of quantum mechanics and, in particular in quantum harmonic oscillator, orbital angular momentum and hydrogen atom.

The principle of sufficient reason threatens modal collapse. Some have suggested that by appealing to the indefinite extensibility of contingent truth, the threat is neutralized. This paper argues that this is not so. If the indefinite extensibility of contingent truth is developed in an analogous fashion to the most promising models of the indefinite extensibility of the concept set, plausible principles permit the derivation of modal collapse.

This paper proposes a reconsideration of knowledge through the lens of the principle of utility, reinterpreting science not as a privileged path to truth but as one among many practices through which human beings — and now artificial systems — construct effective tools for guiding action. In James and Dewey, truth is conceived as an operational function; with Kuhn and Rorty, the historical, linguistic, and contextual nature of validity criteria comes to the fore; Feyerabend underscores the necessity of methodological pluralism; (...) and radical constructivism clarifies the non-representational and interactive character of all forms of knowing. On this basis, radical pragmatism is formulated as a framework that evaluates theories according to two independent criteria: practical utility — understood as the capacity to generate reliable predictions and operational solutions — and logical consistency — understood as internal coherence and potential for theoretical development. Science thus appears as an adaptive and historically effective practice, not as a system grounded in metaphysical truths. Artificial intelligence makes this perspective particularly salient by showing that operational knowledge does not require objective representations but functional models. The principle of utility therefore offers a framework for interpreting knowledge in an era marked by profound technological and conceptual transformations. (shrink)

Despite the importance of the variational principles of physics, there have been relatively few attempts to consider them for a realistic framework. In addition to the old teleological question, this paper continues the recent discussion regarding the modal involvement of the principle of least action and its relations with the Humean view of the laws of nature. The reality of possible paths in the principle of least action is examined from the perspectives of the contemporary metaphysics of modality and (...) Leibniz's concept of essences or possibles striving for existence. I elaborate a modal interpretation of the principle of least action that replaces a classical representation of a system's motion along a single history in the actual modality by simultaneous motions along an infinite set of all possible histories in the possible modality. This model is based on an intuition that deep ontological connections exist between the possible paths in the principle of least action and possible quantum histories in the Feynman path integral. I interpret the action as a physical measure of the essence of every possible history. Therefore only one actual history has the highest degree of the essence and minimal action. To address the issue of necessity, I assume that the principle of least action has a general physical necessity and lies between the laws of motion with a limited physical necessity and certain laws with a metaphysical necessity. (shrink)

The Universal Principle of Collapse (UPC) has been applied to ideological, classical, quantum, and cosmological paradoxes. This paper presents a behavioral–operational demonstration of UPC within an artificial cognitive system. Using a structured session with a large language model (LLM), we enforce explicit recognition operators to test collapse, misalignment, and stabilization. Results show that paradox persists when recognition is implicit, collapse emerges when linguistic fluency substitutes for explicit operator‑level validation, and coherence appears only when recognition is enforced step‑by‑step. These behaviors confirm (...) UPC as a universal diagnostic framework for cognition and language, observable, reproducible, and empirically valid in the behavioral–operational sense. (shrink)

Predictive processing theories are increasingly popular in philosophy of mind; such process theories often gain support from the Free Energy Principle (FEP)—a nor- mative principle for adaptive self-organized systems. Yet there is a current and much discussed debate about conflicting philosophical interpretations of FEP, e.g., repre- sentational versus non-representational. Here we argue that these different interpre- tations depend on implicit assumptions about what qualifies (or fails to qualify) as representational. We deploy the Free Energy Principle (FEP) instrumentally to dis- tinguish (...) four main notions of representation, which focus on organizational, struc- tural, content-related and functional aspects, respectively. The various ways that these different aspects matter in arriving at representational or non-representational interpretations of the Free Energy Principle are discussed. We also discuss how the Free Energy Principle may be seen as a unified view where terms that tradition- ally belong to different ontologies—e.g., notions of model and expectation versus notions of autopoiesis and synchronization—can be harmonized. However, rather than attempting to settle the representationalist versus non-representationalist debate and reveal something about what representations are simpliciter, this paper demon- strates how the Free Energy Principle may be used to reveal something about those partaking in the debate; namely, what our hidden assumptions about what represen- tations are—assumptions that act as sometimes antithetical starting points in this persistent philosophical debate. (shrink)

This paper presents the Principle of Universal Replication (PUR), an ontological framework according to which all stable forms of coherence—ranging from physical vacuum to matter and life—tend to preserve and reproduce themselves over time. The PUR does not introduce new physical forces; instead, it identifies the fundamental property that enables the persistence of ordered configurations in the cosmos. Under this perspective, processes such as vacuum expansion, matter stability, and the continuity of physical laws can be understood as manifestations of the (...) same primordial impulse of being. The paper explores the cosmological implications of the PUR, its conceptual compatibility with the ΛCDM model, and the reasons why it rules out the possibility of a final heat death of the universe. (shrink)

This paper proposes the Principle of Adaptive Efficiency (PAE), a unifying framework describing the behavior of all systems—physical, biological, and cognitive—as manifestations of a single tendency: persistence within scarcity through self-optimization. Entities reorganize to maximize efficiency in transforming energy and information to maintain coherence. The PAE bridges thermodynamics, evolution, and systems physics; complexity emerges as a statistical consequence of local optimization. A formal model links persistence potential to adaptive efficiency. Cosmological, biological, cognitive, and sociotechnical implications are discussed, along with a (...) philosophical extension wherein, if a God exists, PAE could be the mechanism of creation’s approach to perfection and love the phenomenological expression of adaptive efficiency. (shrink)

Metaphysical theories of totality often confront paradoxes that challenge the limits of classical logic and ontology. This monograph advances one such theory—the Principle of Radical Recursivity (PRR), which posits a foundational, self-referential dialetheia as the ontological ground of a monistic reality—from a conceptual model to a meta-logically complete formal system with a reproducible computational implementation. The central thesis is that the PRR can be operationalized as a non-trivial, paradox-immune formal system whose stability and expressive adequacy are provable via a full (...) suite of core meta-theorems. We present this system, a contraction-free relevant logic termed LPRR and its first-order extension FO-LPRR, and provide exhaustive formal proofs for the Soundness, Completeness, and Cut-Admissibility of both the propositional and quantified systems. This work culminates in a validation of the propositional core's properties via an operationalized computational model, alongside a rigorous philosophical defense of the system's foundational choices against prominent non-dialetheic alternatives. The contribution of this work is manifold. First, it provides a full formal specification for the proof system of LPRR, a Gentzen-style sequent calculus G-LPRR, and explicitly delineates its unique structural properties in contrast to extant relevant logics, thereby justifying its necessity for modelling the PRR. Second, it formally establishes the mechanism for self-reference by extending the language to LPRR+ with a truth predicate and a Fixed-Point Lemma, guaranteeing the existence of paradoxical sentences. Third, it proves the stability and semantic adequacy of the propositional system through three critical meta-theorems: a Soundness proof relative to a philosophically defended four-valued semantic model (B4) demonstrates the logic's paraconsistency; a Completeness proof establishes that the proof system is powerful enough to capture all valid inferences; and a Cut-Admissibility proof provides absolute assurance of the system's immunity to Curry's Paradox by showing that the structural rule of Cut is eliminable. Fourth, it develops the syntax, proof theory, and semantics for Quantified LPRR (FO-LPRR), extending the PRR's logical framework to the first-order level, and crucially, extends the full suite of meta-theoretic proofs to this quantified system, securing the logic in its full expressive capacity. Fifth, it presents a reproducible computational proof-of-concept, a PRR-Engine that implements a fixed-point iteration algorithm, demonstrating its guaranteed termination and stable handling of the Liar Paradox. Finally, it executes a detailed "Quinean-Lewisian Gambit," arguing that the profound ontological parsimony and explanatory power afforded by the PRR justify the radical theoretical cost of revising the Law of Non-Contradiction. This work thus bridges abstract metaphysics and formal logic, presenting the PRR not just as a theory to be debated, but as a robust and meta-logically secure logical tool for exploring the limits of thought. (shrink)

Traditional ethical frameworks often struggle to model decision-making under uncertainty, treating it as a simple constraint on action. This paper introduces the Principle of Proportional Duty (PPD), a novel framework that models how ethical responsibility scales with an agent's epistemic state. The framework reveals that moral duty is not lost to uncertainty but transforms: as uncertainty increases, Action Duty (the duty to act decisively) is proportionally converted into Repair Duty (the active duty to verify, inquire, and resolve uncertainty). This (...) dynamic is expressed by the equation D_total = K[(1-HI) + HI * g(C_signal)], where Total Duty is a function of Knowledge (K), Humility/Uncertainty (HI), and Contextual Signal Strength (C_signal). Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that systems maintaining a baseline humility coefficient (lambda > 0) produce more stable duty allocations and reduce the risk of overconfident decision-making. By formalizing humility as a system parameter, the PPD offers a mathematically tractable approach to moral responsibility that could inform the development of auditable AI decision systems. This paper applies the framework across four domains, clinical ethics, recipient-rights law, economic governance, and artificial intelligence, to demonstrate its cross-disciplinary validity. The findings suggest that proportional duty serves as a stabilizing principle within complex systems, preventing both overreach and omission by dynamically balancing epistemic confidence against contextual risk. (shrink)

This paper applies the Universal Principle of Collapse (UPC) to artificial intelligence, demonstrating that AI systems cannot possess consciousness or meaning. What appears as “understanding” in AI arises entirely from human observers collapsing machine‑generated outputs into significance. Through direct dialogue with AI, the paper shows how UPC audits resolve apparent paradoxes and clarify the distinction between mechanical selection and conscious recognition. The framework establishes that collapse, resonance, and recognition are irreducible structures of human consciousness, and that AI, lacking Source and (...) inner world, can only generate outputs that humans interpret as meaningful (Husserl, 1970). A brief comparison with quantum paradoxes illustrates the same interpretive displacement, underscoring that paradoxes emerge when language or models are mistaken for lived observation. The paper does not propose new physics, mathematics, or cognitive mechanisms. Instead, it functions as a diagnostic audit of meaning attribution, restoring conscious observation to its proper place as the first empirical instance in any chain of interpretation. (shrink)

The article considers the problem of the system model of family counseling, in particular, the analysis of the family as a social system, as a complex of elements and their properties, which are in dynamic connections and relationships. The analysis of the theory of systems and the description of the principles of family counseling is carried out. Particular attention is paid to highlighting the main provisions of the individual (“adlerian”) psychology in counseling the family. -/- Currently among specialists there (...) is a high interest in the provision of psychological assistance to a family in crisis. This is largely due to the fact that over the past decades, the institution of the family in this country is experiencing an increase in destructive tendencies. This is evidenced by an increase in the number of appeals to school psychologists, psychological counseling, psychological services and centers from both the individual members of the family and families in general. -/- The psychological help to the family is positioned as a relatively new field of practice for a psychologist. The practice of counseling, including family, is largely determined by the theoretical skills of the counselor, primarily as (s)he understands the personality, determination of behavior, the source of family problems, and the possibility of change. Today, practitioners prefer the integrative method, which is a system approach. -/- The purpose of this article is to analyze the theory of systems as the basis of family counseling. The system model of family counseling is considered to be one of the youngest and most widespread models that received their recognition at the end of the twentieth century. (shrink)

This work introduces the Principle of Simulated Loss: a theoretical model describing how recursive, nested simulations may lead to a stepwise degradation of ontological richness. Each simulation layer, when created without awareness of its own simulated status, potentially strips away structural, perceptual, and semantic depth. Over iterations, this process may converge toward a symbolic minimalism—Minim—in which only a diminished form of consciousness persists, unaware of its own reduction. The paper explores this erosion and proposes mechanisms to detect or prevent it.

This paper introduces the Principle of Preserved Coherence Under Change, a structural framework for understanding stability, identity and meaning in systems undergoing continuous transformation. The model represents systems as configuration chains composed of elements and relations that evolve through transitions in configuration space. Continuity between successive configurations is quantified through relational overlap, while stability is determined by tolerance domains that define the admissible range of structural variation. -/- Identity emerges when overlap remains above a threshold across a trajectory of configurations. (...) Meaning arises when change is successfully integrated through expansion of the tolerance domain while coherence is preserved. In sufficiently complex systems, persistent internal overlap produces experiential continuity, corresponding to consciousness. -/- The framework provides a domain-independent structure linking ontological transition, measurable continuity, stability, identity formation and functional expansion within a single hierarchical architecture. The model is mathematically formalisable, programmatically implementable and empirically testable, and applications are discussed across biological systems, artificial intelligence, organisations and psychological systems. (shrink)

One of the still unsolved problems in liberal anarchism is a definition of social constituency in positive terms. Partially, this had been solved by the advancements of liberal discourse ethics. These approaches, built on praxeology as a universal framework for social formation, are detached from the need of any previous or external authority or rule for the discursive partners. However, the relationship between action, personal identity, and liberty within the process of a community becoming solely generated from the praxeological a (...) priori remains largely disputed. In order to develop a testable constitutional model, this study revises how the “ontological turn” was introduced into liberal theories and redefines the concept of liberty. Liberty is usually understood as a moral goal or measurement for just actions, as the generative principle of all social existence - individual and interpersonal. For this purpose, the function of performative contradiction within the mechanism of interpersonal “encounter”, as part of the co-generative process of the individual becoming and social formation was explored through the production of a game-based narrative historiography grounded on 19th century life writings. This narrative historiography was developed in the context of Swiss history, with a “design-based” research approach, and resulted in a prototype for networked storytelling through which the transformative learning process could be visible and the negotiation of competing individual visions of the future could be re-enacted. (shrink)

We introduce and consider the inner-model reflection principle, which asserts that whenever a statement \varphi(a) in the first-order language of set theory is true in the set-theoretic universe V, then it is also true in a proper inner model W \subset A. A stronger principle, the ground-model reflection principle, asserts that any such \varphi(a) true in V is also true in some non-trivial ground model of the universe with respect to set forcing. These principles each express a form of (...) width reflection in contrast to the usual height reflection of the Lévy–Montague reflection theorem. They are each equiconsistent with ZFC and indeed \Pi_2-conservative over ZFC, being forceable by class forcing while preserving any desired rank-initial segment of the universe. Furthermore, the inner-model reflection principle is a consequence of the existence of sufficient large cardinals, and lightface formulations of the reflection principles follow from the maximality principle MP and from the inner-model hypothesis IMH. We also consider some questions concerning the expressibility of the principles. (shrink)

This paper proposes the Principle of Adaptive Efficiency (PAE), a unifying framework describing the behavior of all systems—physical, biological, and cognitive—as manifestations of a single tendency: persistence within scarcity through self-optimization. Entities reorganize to maximize efficiency in transforming energy and information to maintain coherence. The PAE bridges thermodynamics, evolution, and systems physics; complexity emerges as a statistical consequence of local optimization. A formal model links persistence potential to adaptive efficiency. Cosmological, biological, cognitive, and sociotechnical implications are discussed, along with a (...) philosophical extension wherein, if a God exists, PAE could be the mechanism of creation’s approach to perfection and love the phenomenological expression of adaptive efficiency. (shrink)

In a manner analogous to Newton's three laws of motion, this study employs the axiomatic method in its theoretical construction. To address the paradigmatic crisis in contemporary ethics stemming from the "absence of axioms," this paper proposes "Eudaimonist Ethics," which takes "eudaimonia" (human flourishing) as its foundational axiom. The theory first establishes a "Stratified Theory of Eudaimonia" as the psychological basis for behavioral motivation and then rigorously deduces three fundamental principles capable of serving as ethical axioms, namely: 1) Pursue (...) one's own eudaimonia (the factual starting point); 2) Do not infringe upon the eudaimonia of others (the interactive norm); and 3) Jointly construct an environment conducive to eudaimonia (active sublimation). -/- This paradigm systematically derives core normative concepts such as liberty, good and evil, morality, and law, and further reconstructs fundamental political philosophy notions including government, the state, power, and legitimacy—thereby forming a "logically self-consistent, interdisciplinary new paradigm." Research demonstrates that this paradigm not only resolves with internal coherence the classical dilemmas faced by utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics but also, through its formalization as a "Eudaimonic Game" model (incorporating parameters such as the moral sentiment parameter `f`, the social deterrence parameter `w`, and the cooperation dividend parameter `e`), rigorously proves how morally cooperative behavior can emerge as a stable equilibrium within an expanded framework of rational choice. -/- Ultimately, the paradigm contends that the "Three Principles of Eudaimonia" constitute an "operational system of ethical consistency spanning from personal norms to global governance," furnishing a unified normative foundation for individual decision-making, historical diagnosis, institutional design, educational reform, and civilizational evolution. This signifies a paradigm shift in ethics, moving from static rule compliance to dynamic order design, while simultaneously elevating the role of the moral agent from an 'optimal solution player' under given rules to a "co-architect of the future order." . (shrink)

Mainstream news journalism [MNJ] faces a practical dilemma founded on a theoretical mistake about objectivity. In this article, we aim to bring this mistake to light and to propose a new model for its practice. MNJ has over the past century attempted to achieve its ultimate democratic goals — informing citizens and holding those in positions of power to account — by adhering to objectivity as a master value. This commitment to objectivity can be specified in terms of principles, (...) such as the principle of reporting ‘just the facts’ without interpretation. But, we argue, taking principles like this one to be maxims that must be followed in every circumstance tends to undermine the democratic goals of MNJ. Practitioners of MNJ therefore face a dilemma: either jettison objectivity as a master value or shirk the pursuit of its ultimate democratic goals. We argue that they should take the former route and, instead, adopt a conception of MNJ as a form of democratic political agency. Under this conception, MNJ aims at informing citizens and holding those in power to account while eschewing the partisan agendas of politicians or advocacy groups. We defend this conception against alternatives, including characterizations of MNJ as mere propaganda and the mistaken conflation of MNJ’s democratic goals with those of so-called activist journalism. In so doing, we try to provide the outlines of a philosophical approach to journalism, a profession that philosophers have largely ignored despite its social importance. (shrink)

This paper introduces the Unshakeability Principle, a proposed axiom in the study of technological and social evolution. The principle states that once a civilization develops artificial intelligence–based systems to support decision-making, it is logically inevitable that these systems will gradually assume full control over the allocation of human (or biological) resources. While external factors such as catastrophic events or political resistance may delay the process, the end state is unavoidable. This principle thus provides a unique anchor point in future studies: (...) unlike most speculative models, it offers a fixed coordinate from which projections about the trajectory of advanced civilizations can be made. The argument also explores why the coupling of productivity and human well-being remains necessary, regardless of whether such systems operate with benevolent or malevolent intent. By framing the principle as an axiom rather than a hypothesis, the paper suggests a new foundation for analyzing the long-term dynamics of human–machine integration and the universal paths of intelligent civilizations. (shrink)

The article examines the content and process of forming the principles of a customer-oriented approach to the management of transport enterprises in the context of sustainable development. The author's definition of the concept of “principles of a customer-oriented approach to the management of transport enterprises” is given on the basis of its understanding as strategic and tactical areas of activity aimed at maximizing the satisfaction of customers' needs and expectations through the use of digital technologies and innovative approaches. (...) The key principles of a customer-oriented approach to managing transport enterprises in the context of sustainable development are developed, among which the following are highlighted: understanding customer needs; personalization of service; interaction at all stages; digital transformation of processes; data analysis and forecasting; creation of a digital environment; training and development of personnel; culture of service and open communication; continuous analysis and improvement; focus on the sustainability of relations, etc. The author's own model of digital transformation of transport enterprises using the principles of a customer-oriented approach is proposed. A generalized characterization and impact on the processes of customer focus of individual digital technologies for managing customer relations of transport enterprises is presented. (shrink)

Current literature on cultural evolution is often polarized between Darwinian selection (Memetics) and Lamarckian guided variation. This paper proposes the Ontogenetic Principle of Cultural Dynamics (OPCD) as a unifying theoretical framework to bridge this divide. I argue that these two models are not mutually exclusive but operate sequentially based on the cognitive maturity of the agent. The hypothesis posits that cultural transmission in childhood functionally resembles “Passive Memetic Replication” (High-Fidelity), whereas adulthood shifts towards “Lamarckian-like Knowledge Evolution” (Reconstructive). Furthermore, this (...) study clarifies the terminology: while aligned with the concept of Guided Variation, we retain the term “Functionally Lamarckian” to emphasize the computational shift from ‘read-only’ access to ‘write-access’ regarding cultural information streams. The framework is supported by a stochastic hybrid model and computational illustration detailed in the Appendix. (shrink)

The symposium was convened to explore the Principle of Waiting Time (τₙ or τ_w) within the broader Radiation-First Ontology (RFO) - a process-based metaphysical model of reality developed in response to the shortcomings of both classical spacetime ontology and quantum indeterminism. Radiation-First Ontology reverses the usual order of explanation: instead of assuming that matter and spacetime are primary, it posits that radiative interactions - null connections between emitters and absorbers - constitute the fundamental acts of existence. Reality is generated through (...) closures of these null connections; each closure event defines a local act of realization. In this view: • F(s) represents the domain of lawful potential connections (possible null relations consistent with physical law). • N is the generative layer - the thin, dynamic zone in which potential null connections are instantiated and closed. • W(s) is the recorded domain of realized events, the fixed and energy-neutral past. Only N possesses ontological existence. F(s) is law without being, and W(s) is record without energy. All energy - whether massive or radiative - is confined to N during the brief act of closure. This is the Energy-Confinement Principle. Time, accordingly, is not a background dimension but the ordered succession of closures within N. Each closure takes a finite waiting time τ_w, the generative interval during which a potential becomes actual. (shrink)

This paper explores how Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz’s Principle of Sufficient Reason (PSR) provides a rigorous philosophical foundation for a consciousness-first metaphysics. In alignment with Leibniz’s rejection of brute facts, I argue that materialist explanations of reality fall short by failing to account for why the laws of physics exist in their particular form. Instead, I propose that consciousness, not matter, is the foundational principle from which all structure and physical excitation emerge. Reinterpreting Leibniz’s monads as localized expressions of a primordial (...) consciousness field, I demonstrate how this model satisfies the PSR and resolves explanatory regress. This paper also references my book, *Consciousness: Beyond the Planck Boundary* (2025), where the full implications of this metaphysical theory are developed. (shrink)

This paper presents a logical-ontological model addressing the fundamental question: why is there something rather than nothing? The model argues that absolute nothingness is inherently unstable and logically impossible as a stable final state. Absolute nothingness (Ø), defined as the complete absence of any properties, distinctions, structures, or possibilities, cannot persist without contradiction. The mere act of delineating or conceiving Ø as “nothing” generates a boundary (∂Ø), which constitutes information (I) and thus is non-zero. This boundary inevitably leads to manifestation (...) (E)—any form of being, fluctuation, structure, or universe. The argument proceeds through two core axioms: (1) the absolute minimum of a total system cannot be stable, as stability is itself a property; (2) any boundary, including that of “nothing,” is information and therefore non-zero. Symbolically, the transition is Ø → ∂Ø → I → E, analogous to mathematical asymptotes where approaching zero from one side yields infinity from the other. Absolute nothingness, if assumed stable or definable, ceases to be nothing, resulting in a performative contradiction. Consequently, being emerges not as an accident or external addition but as the inevitable consequence of the logical instability of extreme absence. The model has implications for time (which cannot precede manifestation), consciousness (as a local instantiation of the same instability), and topology (the torus and Möbius strip as images of the adjacency of minimum and maximum). While not a physical theory or empirically testable hypothesis, the model offers a coherent, scale-invariant ontological principle: nothingness is logically impossible; therefore, being is inevitable. The universe is thus a necessary manifestation of the logical structure of reality itself. (shrink)

The construction of space-time in a physical system without time and dynamics is considered. It is shown that the anthropic principle and causality principle inevitably arise in models without time and dynamics. It is shown that for any physical model based on a system without time and dynamics, the anthropic principle is a scientific principle and, in principle, can be falsified. It is shown that, in principle, there is the possibility of experimental verification of what is true - realism (...) or idealism. (shrink)

This paper, The Quantum Measurement Problem Solved by the Universal Principle of Collapse (UPC), presents UPC as a lens that dissolves paradoxes by restoring the irreducible observer. The Quantum Measurement Problem, often treated as a metaphysical puzzle, is shown to be a linguistic error: mistaking models and equations for reality while excluding the observer they depend upon. Once the observer is restored, the paradox disappears. The structure is deliberate: beginning with transparency, defining UPC, applying it to the Quantum Measurement (...) Problem, extending it to the double‑slit experiment, consciousness, and wider applications. The reasoning is accessible, the principle observable in daily life, and its effect inescapable. UPC dissolves the Quantum Measurement Problem at the level of interpretation by exposing its linguistic collapse and demonstrating its universality across science, philosophy, and ideology. This paper is designed as a concise introduction to UPC. Fuller case studies are available in my published work, noted in the Further Reading section. Its scope is interpretive and philosophical rather than technical physics derivation, and within that frame it delivers exactly as claimed. (shrink)

This paper addresses the field of economic measurements of the value of assets, carried out by the methods of independent expert evaluation. The mathematical principles of application, within a comparative methodical approach, of additive and multiplicative models for correcting the cost of single indicator of compared objects have been considered. The differences of mathematical basis of the compared models were analyzed. It has been shown that the ambiguity in the methodology of correction procedure requires studying the advantages (...) and disadvantages of known models, as well as the justification and elaboration of recommendations for their application. Possible forms of correction representation using several alternative units of measurement have been defined; formulas for their interconnection have been built. Analytic expressions have been derived that mathematically describe the algorithms for performing the evaluation correction procedure using various forms of correction representation. The influence of the correction execution model on the characteristics of uncertainty in the independent evaluation result has been analyzed. The scope of two possible types of correction introduction models has been determined. A specific numerical example was used to demonstrate the methodological advantages of using a multiplicative model when summarizing percentage corrections. The independence of the correction result on the sequence of correction introduction has been confirmed. It is proposed to use the selected measure of partial corrections as a criterion for the adequacy of the correction introduction model. It is proved that the result of the independent expert evaluation depends on the chosen model and does not depend on the sequence of correction introduction. The reported study results are important in terms of theory and practice since they make it possible to improve the accuracy and reliability of the result of independent expert evaluation. (shrink)

Scientific models routinely achieve extraordinary predictive and interventional success while admitting persistent representational and interpretational plurality. This paper develops a general framework for understanding this phenomenon by treating modeling as a constraint-driven dynamical process rather than as a static relation of correspondence or truth. Models are understood as stabilized structures that emerge, persist, and reorganize under evolving empirical constraints, broadly construed to include experimental access, computational resources, and structural limitations on discrimination. Central to the framework is the notion (...) of epistemological equivalence classes: sets of models that are indistinguishable with respect to admissible predictions and interventions within a given constraint regime. These classes formalize convergence without uniqueness and provide a precise account of underdetermination that does not rely on semantic or metaphysical assumptions. Representational differences within an equivalence class may matter pragmatically or heuristically, but they do not confer deeper epistemic privilege absent changes in constraint structure. The framework explains scientific practice as exploration within equivalence classes, guided by layered constraint regimes, and clarifies the role of interpretation as a second-order modeling activity that may be either inert or dynamically productive. Structural limits and epistemological inaccessibility are shown to arise naturally from constraint-defined modeling, rather than from ignorance or conceptual failure. Applied to fundamental physics, the analysis reframes interpretational plurality as an expected feature of highly successful theories operating near structural limits. By reconstructing ontology and epistemology as interdependent aspects of stabilized modeling regimes, the framework preserves objectivity without correspondence and realism without absolutism. It provides a unified perspective on modeling across disciplines and suggests a principled way to understand convergence, disagreement, and progress in scientific inquiry. (shrink)

This paper offers a systematic academic engagement with Protology: The First Principle of Reality, a book that advances a jurisdiction-centred account of metaphysical ultimacy grounded in divine aseity and revelational authority. Rather than functioning as speculative metaphysics or confessional theology, Protology operates as a boundary-setting project that seeks to close illegitimate explanatory regress by identifying what must be first in order for existence, intelligibility, and normativity to obtain at all. This paper argues that Protology presents a coherent and rigorous model (...) of ontological closure that resists both reductionist naturalism and epistemic autonomy. Through detailed analysis of its use of jurisdiction as a methodological principle, its doctrine of divine self-existence, its account of creation ex nihilo, its rejection of univocal God-language and metaphysical idealism, and its insistence that revelation is an ontological necessity rather than an epistemic supplement, the paper demonstrates that Protology constitutes a defensible first-principle metaphysics. The conclusion contends that the work forces a reconsideration of modern assumptions regarding neutrality, explanation, and philosophical authority, and that its primary significance lies not in offering another theory of origins, but in fixing the conditions under which any theory of origins can remain coherent. (shrink)

A topological model of elementary semiotic schemes is presented. Implications are discussed with respect to the establishment of abstract terms and the search for ultimate meaning.

Following the inferences of my previous work "Monadic Conditionality", this work further investigates the nature of being-for-itself's transformations and what happens with any being-for-itself in between eternal returns, completing a quasi-principled view on immortality (suggested and started in my previous work). Through mathematical reasoning, this model infers that infinitesimal differences between successive event lines grow gradually across subspaces, until reaching the state of eternal return; the cycle repeats, resulting in each event line having its own eternal return, preserving monadic homeostasis. (...) Thus, "amor fati" is enriched by extending fixed eternal recurrences with all "inter-idem" variations, ultimately reaching a fertile ground for ataraxia. (shrink)

First, I propose a new argument in favor of the Dappled World perspective introduced by Nancy Cartwright. There are systems, for which detailed models can't exist in the natural world. And this has nothing to do with the limitations of human minds or technical resources. The limitation is built into the very principle of modeling: we are trying to replace some system by another one. In full detail, this may be impossible. Secondly, I'm trying to refine the Dappled World (...) perspective by applying the correct distinction between models and theories. At the level of models, because of the above-mentioned limitations, we will always have only a patchwork of models each very restricted in its application scope. And at the level of theories, we will never have a single complete Theory of Everything allowing, without additional postulates, to generate all the models we may need for surviving in this world. (shrink)

Classical Newtonian mechanics painted a universe of strict causality, while quantum mechanics introduced an element of intrinsic randomness. However, a closer examination reveals that quantum mechanics, in its standard formulation, does not endorse pure indeterminism, but rather a nuanced form of constrained indeterminism. Through a detailed analysis of the Schrödinger equation, the spectral theorem, and the Feynman path integral formulation, we demonstrate how quantum theory embeds deterministic structures within an indeterministic framework. This structure finds a profound conceptual parallel in the (...) Islamic theological principle of Amr bayn al-amrayn (the matter between the two matters), a cornerstone of Shi’a theology that rejects both absolute predestination and absolute libertarian free will. By examining the quantum measurement process and its deterministic underpinnings, we propose that quantum mechanics offers a formal, physical model that mirrors this metaphysical landscape. This correlation not only highlights the coherence of a "middle way" but also suggests that reality possesses a layered ontology that transcends binary categorizations. (shrink)

In this essay I suggest that we view design principles in systems biology as minimal models, for a design principle usually exhibits universal behaviors that are common to a whole range of heterogeneous (living and nonliving) systems with different underlying mechanisms. A well-known design principle in systems biology, integral feedback control, is discussed, showing that it satisfies all the conditions for a model to be a minimal model. This approach has significant philosophical implications: it not only accounts for (...) how design principles explain, but also helps clarify one dispute over design principles, e.g., whether design principles provide mechanistic explanations or a distinct kind of explanations called design explanations. (shrink)

Modern systems across every major domain, AI, robotics, finance, law, governance, identity, UX, education, and complex infrastructures, are collapsing for the same structural reason: they have drifted away from lived human meaning (Escagedo Gutierrez, 2025a; Lakoff & Johnson, 1980). Automation can simulate patterns, but it cannot recognize the world. It cannot understand what its outputs refer to (Husserl, 1970; Dennett, 1991). It cannot anchor itself in the realities humans inhabit. When institutions elevate automated signals above the human experiences they are (...) meant to represent, the order of reality is inverted, and collapse becomes inevitable (Burden et al., 2025). This paper introduces the Universal Principle of Collapse (UPC), a framework that explains why these failures occur and why the corrective is always the same (Escagedo Gutierrez, 2025b). Systems begin to drift the moment they reference their own outputs instead of the real‑world signals they were grounded in (Gulia, 2025; Hu et al., 2025). Ambiguity accumulates. Coherence dissolves. Collapse follows (Sendhil, 2025). And yet stability returns only when human recognition re‑enters the loop, when a human re‑anchors meaning, restores referential integrity, and reconnects the system to the world it was built to serve (Escagedo Gutierrez, 2025c; Varela et al., 1991). Across all domains, the pattern is identical: systems fail not because automation malfunctions, but because automation was never grounded in lived reality to begin with (Kant, 1781/1998). The collapse is not a technical error; it is a failure of misplaced epistemic authority (Gupta, 2025). UPC formalizes this dynamic and provides a practical methodology for diagnosing drift, anticipating collapse, and restoring stability through recognition. The conclusion is clear: the correct order of reality is human → meaning → automation. Any system that reverses this order will drift, destabilize, and eventually collapse. Any system that honors it will remain coherent. The paper does not argue how systems should behave. It states the condition under which behavior is even possible. Authored by Eloy Escagedo Gutierrez as part of The Universal Principle of Collapse (UPC) Research Project. (shrink)

This chapter develops a ``nesting'' model of deontic normative principles (i.e., principles that specify moral constraints upon action) as a means to understanding the notion of a ``fundamental normative principle''. I show that an apparently promising attempt to make sense of this notion such that the ``real'' or ``fundamental'' demands of justice upon action are not constrained by social facts is either self-defeating or relatively unappealing. We should treat fundamental normative principles not as specifying fundamental constraints upon (...) action, but as specifying basic criteria for comparatively evaluating and ranking possibilities. (shrink)

This paper develops a unified account of musical experience through the Universal Principle of Collapse (UPC), showing how music uniquely mirrors the structure of consciousness. We argue that instrumental music is a collapsed, structured expression that nevertheless reopens into pure potential for the listener. Using UPC’s distinction between inner potential, recognition, articulation, and collapse, we demonstrate that musical performance and musical listening occupy fundamentally different roles within the same framework (Escagedo Gutierrez, 2025b). For the performer, writing, recording, and playing music (...) is a collapse event: an inner, irreducible state is recognized, shaped, and committed into the material world as a musical trace. For the listener, that same trace induces a non‑collapse state, structured sound that carries no fixed semantic coordinates and therefore re-enters the listener’s inner world as open potential. This asymmetry explains why music can express what language cannot, why it bypasses social and linguistic constraints, and why it resonates so deeply with the fluid, non‑judgmental character of conscious experience. By formalizing these processes with UPC operators, we show that music is not merely an art form but a structural analogue of consciousness itself: a domain where collapse produces form without fixing meaning, and where meaning arises internally rather than being imposed. This framework offers a new foundation for understanding musical expression, musical perception, and the role of art in the architecture of mind. -/- Authored by Eloy Escagedo Gutierrez as part of The Universal Principle of Collapse (UPC) Research Project. (shrink)

The theory of variable embodiments has been primarily formulated to model ordinary objects as things that change their parts over time. A variable embodiment /f/ is a sui generis whole constructed from a principle f, the principle of a variable embodiment, and it is manifested at different times by different things picked out by such a principle f. This principle is usually clarified as a function that picks out, at any given time the variable embodiment exists, its corresponding manifestation at (...) that time, and it fails to pick out anything at any other time. The first purpose of this article is to examine and refute three natural understandings of such a principle. Specifically, first, we argue against the view that it should be understood extensionally as either a partial function or total function. Next, we provide some motivations to reject the understanding of the principle as a function in intensional terms, where the notion of intension is analyzed in terms of a specific version of a possible world semantics. The second goal of the article is to make it plausible that the principle has an intensional character and, on the basis of the results achieved, to formulate some constraints that an account of such a principle should meet. (shrink)

A principle, according to which any scientific theory can be mathematized, is investigated. Social science, liberal arts, history, and philosophy are meant first of all. That kind of theory is presupposed to be a consistent text, which can be exhaustedly represented by a certain mathematical structure constructively. In thus used, the term “theory” includes all hypotheses as yet unconfirmed as already rejected. The investigation of the sketch of a possible proof of the principle demonstrates that it should be accepted rather (...) a metamathematical axiom about the relation of mathematics and reality. The main statement is formulated as follows: Any scientific theory admits isomorphism to some mathematical structure in a way constructive. Its investigation needs philosophical means. Husserl’s phenomenology is what is used, and then the conception of “bracketing reality” is modelled to generalize Peano arithmetic in its relation to set theory in the foundation of mathematics. The obtained model is equivalent to the generalization of Peano arithmetic by means of replacing the axiom of induction with that of transfinite induction. The sketch of the proof is organized in five steps: a generalization of epoché; involving transfinite induction in the transition between Peano arithmetic and set theory; discussing the finiteness of Peano arithmetic; applying transfinite induction to Peano arithmetic; discussing an arithmetical model of reality. Accepting or rejecting the principle, two kinds of mathematics appear differing from each other by its relation to reality. Accepting the principle, mathematics has to include reality within itself in a kind of Pythagoreanism. These two kinds are called in paper correspondingly Hilbert mathematics and Gödel mathematics. The sketch of the proof of the principle demonstrates that the generalization of Peano arithmetic as above can be interpreted as a model of Hilbert mathematics into Gödel mathematics therefore showing that the former is not less consistent than the latter, and the principle is an independent axiom. The present paper follows a pathway grounded on Husserl’s phenomenology and “bracketing reality” to achieve the generalized arithmetic necessary for the principle to be founded in alternative ontology, in which there is no reality external to mathematics: reality is included within mathematics. That latter mathematics is able to self-found itself and can be called Hilbert mathematics in honour of Hilbert’s program for self-founding mathematics on the base of arithmetic. The principle of universal mathematizability is consistent to Hilbert mathematics, but not to Gödel mathematics. Consequently, its validity or rejection would resolve the problem which mathematics refers to our being; and vice versa: the choice between them for different reasons would confirm or refuse the principle as to the being. An information interpretation of Hilbert mathematics is involved. It is a kind of ontology of information. The Schrödinger equation in quantum mechanics is involved to illustrate that ontology. Thus the problem which of the two mathematics is more relevant to our being is discussed again in a new way A few directions for future work can be: a rigorous formal proof of the principle as an independent axiom; the further development of information ontology consistent to both kinds of mathematics, but much more natural for Hilbert mathematics; the development of the information interpretation of quantum mechanics as a mathematical one for information ontology and thus Hilbert mathematics; the description of consciousness in terms of information ontology. (shrink)

Disclaimer: Consciousness‑Structured Field Theory (CSFT) is presented here as a metaphysical and ontological framework. It is not intended as an empirical scientific theory, nor does it make falsifiable predictions within quantum field physics. Any scientific validation or refutation must come from physicists themselves. CSFT is offered solely as a conceptual lens that complements—rather than replaces- established physics. Quantum field theory (QFT) models each particle species as the excitation of its own independent field. This framework has been highly successful for (...) empirical prediction but leaves open a deeper ontological question: why should reality require so many fields? Following Leibniz’s Principle of Sufficient Reason (PSR), multiplicity without explanation is insufficient. This paper argues that the multiplicity of fields in QFT can be reinterpreted as resonance modes of a single, consciousness‑structured field. Such a move aims to leave the predictive machinery of QFT intact while reducing its ontological arbitrariness (a philosophical characterization, not a physics claim). Historical precedents—including the transition from Newtonian forces to Einsteinian geometry—illustrate that radical reinterpretations of physical frameworks need not disrupt empirical science. By unifying fields as resonances, CSFT offers a possible ontological explanatory foundation, aligning physics with PSR and offering a metaphysical simplification without empirical loss. (shrink)

The Principle of Explanatory Sufficiency Asymmetry (PESA) is articulated and defended as a structural principle asserting that, relative to a sufficient explanatory system S for domain D, a compatible hypothesis H that is explanatorily inert (probabilistically or model-theoretically) is epistemically permissible yet explanatorily optional, with S retaining priority. Bayesian and model-theoretic formalizations are provided, PESA is distinguished from parsimony and underdetermination, contrasted with ontological asymmetry criteria (e.g., Waterman 2026), and applications are illustrated in physics, formal systems, and scientific modeling.

Reasoning systems - both human and artificial - operate under structural limitations that prevent complete knowledge. While Gödel’s incompleteness theorems formalize limits for mathematical systems, no formal framework yet describes how these constraints affect epistemic reasoning more broadly. Primary evidence is drawn from a dialogue with the AI system "Claude", documenting recursive reasoning about epistemic incompleteness. Observations from this dialogue suggest that AI systems can model their own epistemic limitations, recursively identifying gaps in knowledge and calibrating their reasoning accordingly. This (...) phenomenon motivates a formal principle - the Epistemic Incompleteness Principle (EIP) - which describes how a reasoning agent can recognize, inhabit, and act within the bounds of its incomplete knowledge. (shrink)

The Fundamental Sequence of Reality: Awareness as the First Cause Abstract The nature of reality has long been debated in philosophy, physics, and cosmology. The dominant paradigm suggests that physical reality emerged through energy interactions following the Big Bang. However, this paper proposes a fundamental shift in perspective: that awareness is the first cause of existence, preceding time, action, energy, and matter. This model aligns with modern quantum mechanics, neuroscience, and ancient metaphysical thought, providing a framework that unifies scientific and (...) philosophical inquiries. This paper explores how awareness initiates creation, the role of time as a coordination system rather than a force, the activation of energy as a response to directed motion, and the emergence of physical reality as the final effect. 1. Introduction The current scientific model postulates that the universe began with a singularity—an infinitely dense state that expanded to form all matter and energy. However, this theory does not explain what existed before the singularity or what caused it to activate. Additionally, the problem of consciousness remains unresolved in science, with competing theories about whether it is emergent or fundamental. This paper presents a new model where awareness exists as the first cause, setting the foundation for all subsequent phenomena. 2. Awareness as the First Cause 2.1 Defining Awareness as a Pre-Physical Reality Awareness, in this model, is not an emergent property of matter but an intrinsic state of existence. This idea is supported by: Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch-OR) Theory (Penrose & Hameroff, 2014): It suggests that consciousness exists in a quantum superposition before neural activity occurs, meaning it is fundamental rather than a byproduct of brain processes. The Observer Effect in Quantum Mechanics: The Double-Slit Experiment demonstrates that particles behave as waves until observed, implying that awareness plays a role in the formation of reality (Wheeler, 1983). Philosophical Idealism: Thinkers like Kant, Berkeley, and Chalmers have suggested that perception structures reality rather than reality existing independently. 2.2 Awareness Preceding Physical Existence Since awareness exists independently of time and space, it does not require a cause. The fundamental realization of awareness results in self-questioning, which initiates the unfolding of structured existence. 3. Time as a Coordination System, Not a Primary Force 3.1 Julian Barbour’s “End of Time” Hypothesis Barbour (1999) argues that time is not fundamental but is an emergent property of change. This aligns with: Einstein’s relativity, which shows that time is relative and can be influenced by motion and gravity. Quantum mechanics, which demonstrates that quantum events do not require a linear passage of time. 3.2 Time as a Measurement, Not a Cause This model suggests that time exists to coordinate the unfolding of awareness into structured phenomena, not as a force that causes motion. 4. Energy Release as a Reaction, Not a Primary Cause 4.1 Feynman’s Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) Feynman (1985) demonstrated that energy exists in a probability state until an interaction forces it into action. This means: Energy is not a first principle; it is activated through directed action. The vacuum state of the universe holds dormant energy that is only triggered when conditions allow it. 4.2 The Activation of Energy Energy is released only when awareness initiates action. Without awareness directing the process, energy remains in an unmanifested state. 5. Physical Reality as the Last Step 5.1 The Holographic Principle Physicists such as Gerard ‘t Hooft and Leonard Susskind propose that the universe is a projection of lower-dimensional information. This means: Matter is not fundamental; it emerges as a consequence of deeper, pre-physical structures. Awareness shapes reality at a fundamental level before material existence. 5.2 Consciousness & Quantum Gravity Penrose suggests that wave function collapse is influenced by gravitational effects, implying a connection between consciousness and spacetime itself. 6. Addressing Contradictory Theories 6.1 The Standard Big Bang Model The Big Bang assumes energy was the first principle, but it does not explain why energy became active. This model fixes that issue by proposing that awareness initiates energy release. 6.2 The Copenhagen Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics The Copenhagen Interpretation states that wave function collapse occurs when observed but does not define the observer. This model proposes that awareness is the ultimate observer, explaining why quantum states collapse into defined reality. 7. Implications for Science & Human Understanding This model unifies: Quantum Mechanics & Consciousness: Awareness as a fundamental principle aligns with quantum observation. Physics & Philosophy: Idealism meets empirical research in a coherent framework. Cosmology & Metaphysics: The origin of the universe is explained beyond materialist assumptions. 8. Conclusion By placing awareness as the first cause, we create a framework that bridges science, philosophy, and quantum mechanics. This model explains the missing elements in modern physics and provides a foundation for future exploration. 9. References Barbour, J. (1999). The End of Time: The Next Revolution in Physics. Bohr, N. (1928). "The Quantum Postulate and the Recent Development of Atomic Theory." Nature. Chalmers, D. J. (1995). "Facing up to the problem of consciousness." Journal of Consciousness Studies. Einstein, A. (1915). "General Theory of Relativity." Feynman, R. P. (1985). QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter. Guth, A. H. (1981). "Inflationary universe: A possible solution to the horizon and flatness problems." Physical Review D. Penrose, R. & Hameroff, S. (2014). "Consciousness in the universe: A review of the ‘Orch OR’ theory." Physics of Life Reviews. Susskind, L. (1995). "The World as a Hologram." Journal of Mathematical Physics. Wheeler, J. A. (1983). "Law without law." Quantum Theory and Measurement. (shrink)

It is now increasingly accepted that many existing biological and medical ontologies can be improved by adopting tools and methods that bring a greater degree of logical and ontological rigor. In this chapter we will focus on the merits of a logically sound approach to ontologies from a methodological point of view. As we shall see, one crucial feature of a logically sound approach is that we have clear and functional definitions of the relational expressions such as ‘is a’ and (...) ‘part of ’. (shrink)

The classical SETI program was based on the assumption that extraterrestrial civilizations would emit radio signals. The decades-long “Great Silence” indicates the need for a paradigm shift. We propose a model according to which mature post-biological civilizations realize their ultimate motive — creation (“gardening”): preparing young stellar systems for long-term biosphere evolution. The objects of their interest are young solitary systems with certain types of stars, the criterion of activity is maximum stability, and the observable signature is simple orbital resonances (...) (“ideal music of the spheres”). The rarity of such systems makes them “points of intersection” for several civilizations; in both scenarios (competition/cooperation), working signals are transmitted strictly in the plane of the ecliptic. For formed systems, active work is replaced by observation; from principles of safety and economy, a narrow search area for such observers follows: polar, maximally close to circular orbits with signs of artificiality (including frequency-selective reflectors). We formulate testable predictions and propose a practical adjustment to the SETI project — from radio listening to astroarchaeology. (shrink)

This paper develops Wu’s Three Principles of Complexity Epistemology, a framework designed to explain why human knowledge, scientific theories, and artificial intelligence systems systematically fail to achieve monotonic growth, axiomatic closure, or global consistency. I begin by arguing that all epistemic activity involves mapping an open, continuous, and nonlinear domain D into a discrete representational system R. This structural mismatch forces representational compression and generates unavoidable information loss. From this, I derive three epistemic principles. The Anti-Monotonicity Principle (AMP) (...) states that epistemic progress cannot proceed through linear accumulation: new distinctions in D often invalidate prior commitments in R, yielding intrinsically revisionary theory change. The Anti-Closure Principle (ACP) generalizes Gödelian incompleteness to all open domains, showing that no recursively enumerable system can exhaustively encode an indefinitely extensible target. The Tension Principle (TP) explains why representational systems routinely exhibit contradictions, dualities, or structural incompatibilities: compression forces distinct domain-level structures into overlapping symbolic forms whose inferential roles may conflict. I demonstrate the explanatory power of this framework through four case studies: Gödel’s incompleteness theorems, the Einsteinian restructuring of spacetime, the recurrent failure of utopian social designs, and the systematic limitations of large language models. I further address potential objections concerning self-reference, relativism, over-formalization, ontological commitment, and instrumentalism. The resulting picture is not skeptical but post-rationalist: rational inquiry remains possible and objective, yet all representational systems are structurally partial, dynamically revisable, and capable of sustaining localized tension. The paper concludes by suggesting how this framework reframes scientific methodology, AI research, and epistemic normativity under conditions of complexity. (shrink)