Thermodynamic Realism: The Deductive Web

Thermodynamic Realism: The Deductive Web

This is the deductive structure of the Thermodynamic Realism apex paper, drawn as a single map. Four axioms and four background empirical premises propagate through four layers of numbered results. Each node is coloured by kind, so the architecture shows where the framework deduces and where it defines, imports, or extends by analogy.

Tap any node to highlight every result it rests on, traced back to the axioms. Tap it again, or tap empty space, to reset.

Companion materials: the Thermodynamic Realism apex paper, and a glossary of its terms.

Axiom Background premise Theorem Definition Characterisation Functional account Analogical extension Corollary Falsification criteria
Tap any result to trace its full chain of support back to the axioms.
Axioms
A0
The Persistence Tautology
Axiom
foundational
A1
Physicalism
Axiom
foundational
A2
The Second Law of Thermodynamics
Axiom
foundational
A3
Information Is Physical
Axiom
foundational
Background empirical premises
BP0
Low-Entropy Initial Condition
Background premise
foundational (the Past Hypothesis)
BP1
Non-Equilibrium Existence
Background premise
follows from BP0
BP2
Finite Accessible Resources
Background premise
foundational
BP3
Evolutionary Dynamics & Multi-Scale Organization
Background premise
foundational
Layer 1 · Immediate Consequences
T1
Environmental Variance Is Ineliminable
Theorem
rests on A1, A2, BP1
T2
Persistence Requires Work
Theorem
rests on A2, A0
T3
Modeling Has a Minimum Cost
Theorem
rests on A3
T4
Map-Territory Divergence Costs Energy
Theorem
rests on T1, T3
T5
The Persistence Selection Principle
Theorem · statistical
rests on T2, T4, A0, BP2, BP3
Layer 2 · Structural Deductions
T6
Directional Drift Toward Lower Divergence
Theorem
rests on T1, T5
T7
Truth as Robust Compression Fidelity
Definition
motivated by T6, T3
T8
Intentional Deception Costs More
Theorem
rests on T3, T4
T9
The Consistency Tax
Definition · consolidating
consolidates T4, T8
T10
Epistemic Profit
Theorem
rests on T9, T3
Layer 3 · Meta-Ethics
T11
"Ought" Is a Domain-Bound Operator
Theorem
rests on A0, T2, and the semantic premise (§5.1)
T12
Ought-Facts Are Physically Determinate
Theorem
rests on A1, A2, T11
T13
Ethics as Bounded-Agent Modeling
Characterisation
rests on T12, T3, T7
T14
Moral Progress Is Real and Directional
Theorem
rests on T6, T13
Layer 4 · Full Architecture
T15
Markov Blankets & Multi-Scale Identity
Theorem · imported formalism
rests on T2, T5, T3, BP3
T16
Coupling Density K
Definition
built on T15, T4, T5
T17
Antifragility as a Persistence Condition
Theorem · qualitative
rests on T1, T4, T6, T7
T18
The Landauer Ceiling on Adaptation
Theorem · in-principle bound
rests on A3, T3
T19
Valence as Divergence Telemetry
Functional account
rests on T4, T5, T9
T20
Empathy as Coupled Telemetry
Functional account
rests on T16, T19
T21
Epistemic Overshoot & Collapse
Analogical extension
rests on T8, T9, T14, T20
T22
The Limits of Maximizers
Theorem
rests on T2, T3, T5, T7, BP1
C1
Direction of Persistence Selection
Corollary · descriptive
rests on T15, T17, T22
Falsification
T23
Falsification Criteria
Falsification criteria · not a theorem
tests T5, T8, T9, T17, T19

A companion to the Thermodynamic Realism apex paper. The node kinds, theorem, definition, characterisation, functional account, analogical extension, corollary, are the paper's own labels: the diagram shows not only what rests on what, but what kind of move each result is.

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