Paper M2 — Formal Constraint Dynamics and Emergent Constructors

Version: v0.1 | Theory: Cohesion Dynamics (CD) | Level: M (Formal Metaphysics)

M2 provides a formal, non-teleological account of how stable, self-maintaining, and replicative structures (constructors) emerge from constraint systems acting on informational states. Building on CD conceptual foundations, we define admissibility, mismatch, tolerance, and precedence entirely at the level of relations over state space, without invoking time, computation, or physical execution.

Key Results:

• Constructor-like behavior arises as structural consequence of local error tolerance combined with precedence-restricted admissible transitions
• Higher-order constructors follow naturally via lifted constraint structure
• Formal layer supplies minimal mathematical substrate upon which physical instantiations (spacetime, quantum dynamics) may later be derived

Scope: Does not propose physical model, substrate, or dynamics in time. Formalizes: what it means for informational states to be cohesive, how error tolerance enables scalability, why local precedence produces persistence/repair/replication, how hierarchical constructors arise without additional primitives. All physical interpretations (time, locality, energy, fields) deferred to later papers.

Paper ID: CD-M2 | Series: M-series (Formal Mechanisms) | Status: Draft v0.1 | Dependencies: M1