--- START FILE: 00_Master_Plan/AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Overview.md --- --- generation_timestamp: 2025-06-07T06:00:00.000Z # Updated to reflect new versioning processing_mode: segmented_output initial_prompt_summary: "User confirmed file structure for segmented Master Plan v2.0. Request to generate the first file: AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Overview.md, using Markdown links for cross-referencing." final_iteration_count: 1 max_iterations_setting: 1 model_configuration: model_name: 'gemini-2.5-flash-preview-04-17' # Placeholder temperature: 0.50 top_p: 0.90 top_k: 40 prompt_source_name: AUTX_Master_Plan_v1.66_Hierarchical_Lists_and_File_Structure_Discussion --- **Autaxys Research & Development Master Plan (v2.0)** **Part I: Foundations & Context** **1.0 Introduction to Autaxys & Its Context** **1.1. How to Use This Master Plan** This Autaxys Research & Development Master Plan (“Master Plan,” “Plan”) serves as a comprehensive, high-level strategic guide for the ongoing exploration and development of the **autaxys** framework and its associated field, **autology**. It is intended primarily to provide clarity, focus, and motivation for the Principal Investigator (PI) and to articulate the depth and breadth of this research program for potential collaborators and the interested public. Given the foundational and evolving nature of autaxys research, this Master Plan is explicitly designed as a **living document**. It is not a rigid, immutable prescription but a dynamic map that will be periodically reviewed, updated, and refined as new insights are gained, research progresses, and priorities shift (Section 12.0, Part VII). The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) derived from previous planning provides a detailed task list that this plan strategically guides (refer to `06_Governance_And_Admin/WBS_Autaxys_R&D_Program_vX.Y.md`). The Plan is structured for different users: 1.1.1. **For the Principal Investigator:** Use this Plan to maintain a strategic overview, track progress against long-term goals (using the WBS and AFKB for tactical execution), identify immediate research priorities from the detailed project sections (Section 6.0, Part V) and roadmap (Section 10.0, Part VII), and ensure methodological coherence (Section 7.0, Part V). Revisit and update sections as milestones are achieved or new questions emerge. Strategies for managing dependencies and prioritizing critical path items (Section 10.0) are crucial for single-PI progress. 1.1.2. **For Potential Collaborators/Contributors:** Use this Plan to understand the core vision of autaxys ([Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), identify major research areas (Section 5.0 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)), find specific projects or open questions you might be interested in (Section 6.0 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md), Section 3.7 in [Part III: Autaxys in Context](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_III_Context_URFE.md), Appendix 14.3, Part IX), and understand our collaborative and dissemination philosophy (Section 11.0, Part VII). 1.1.3. **For the Public:** This document aims to offer a transparent view into a long-term foundational research program, showcasing its scope, methodologies (Section 7.0 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)), and aspirations. Engagement with this Plan should be active and iterative. Its value lies in its capacity to guide and adapt, not to constrain. **1.2. The Quest for Foundational Understanding: Limitations of Current Paradigms** The human endeavor to comprehend the fundamental nature of reality has yielded extraordinary scientific theories and descriptive philosophical insights. Despite these achievements, persistent conceptual chasms and explanatory gaps remain at the very foundations of our knowledge. Current paradigms often encounter limitations when addressing: 1.2.1. **Ultimate Origins:** The origin of the universe, physical laws, and fundamental constants often rely on axiomatic assumptions or lead to theoretical breakdowns (as discussed in Chapter 14 and 15 of *A New Way of Seeing* - see Section 1.7). 1.2.2. **Unification Challenges:** Reconciling general relativity with quantum mechanics, understanding the “dark sector” (dark matter and dark energy), and explaining the hierarchy of forces remain elusive (as discussed in Chapter 11, 12, 14 of *A New Way of Seeing* - see Section 1.7). 1.2.3. **Complexity and Emergence:** How novel properties and higher levels of organization (including life and consciousness) arise from simpler constituents often lacks a truly generative explanation from first principles (as discussed in Chapter 14, 16 of *A New Way of Seeing* - see Section 1.7). 1.2.4. **Ontological Foundations:** Philosophical assumptions underpinning scientific theories are often implicit, potentially limiting the conception of radically new frameworks (as discussed in Chapter 1 and 15 of *A New Way of Seeing* - see Section 1.7). These enduring challenges signal an imperative for new foundational thinking—a search for principles that can offer a more coherent, unified, and generative understanding of reality. As explored in Part I of the monograph *A New Way of Seeing* (Chapters 1-6), our conventional modes of 'seeing' reality—biological perception, scientific instrumentation, and theoretical frameworks—are inherently mediated and limited, often shaping the very contours of our ignorance. The autaxys research program, detailed in this Master Plan, is a direct response to this situation. It proposes a novel theoretical framework ([Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)) and undertakes its development through an innovative research methodology (Section 7.0 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)) that leverages the **Autologos Toolkit** – a suite of custom AI-driven applications and potentially an AI Workflow Orchestrator (built using tools like Google AI Studio with the Gemini API) – to assist in navigating the complexities of this intellectual terrain (further detailed in Section 8.0 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md): The Autologos Protocol: An AI Toolkit for Autaxys Research Operations). This approach aims to systematically address these foundational issues from a new vantage point, grounded in a critical awareness of the limits of our current gaze and building upon the insights gleaned from previous explorations (as summarized in Section 1.7 and Appendix 14.4, Part IX). **1.3. Autaxys: Definition, Core Principles, and the Generative Engine (Summary)** In response to this imperative, **autaxys** is proposed as a candidate fundamental principle. Formally defined: > *Autaxys is the fundamental principle of reality conceived as a self-ordering, self-arranging, and self-generating system. It is the inherent dynamic process by which patterns emerge, persist, and interact, giving rise to all discernible structures and phenomena. These phenomena include what is perceived by observing systems as information, as well as the regularities interpreted as physical laws, and the complex, stable patterns identified as matter, energy, space, and time. A core tenet is that autaxys operates without recourse to an external organizing agent or pre-imposed set of rules; the principles of its ordering and generation are intrinsic to its nature.* (Detailed in Section 2.1 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md), synthesized from foundational documents like "Autaxys and Autology: Definition, Rationale, and Implications" and Chapter 7 of *A New Way of Seeing*) Key characteristics of autaxys include its ontological primacy, dynamic and processual nature, intrinsic rationality (*meta-logic*), pattern-generating capacity, and the *acausal origin* of its ordering principles (Section 2.2 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)). It posits a reality that is fundamentally active, creative, and self-sufficient in its capacity to generate order and complexity. Autaxys is understood to function via an intrinsic **Autaxic Generative Engine**, a synergistic set of fundamental processes and inherent regulative principles. This engine comprises: 1.3.1. **Core Operational Dynamics:** These include *Relational Processing*, *Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking* (SSB), *Feedback Dynamics*, *Resonance and Coherence Establishment*, and *Critical State Transitions*. 1.3.2. **Intrinsic Meta-Logical Principles:** These guiding principles include *Intrinsic Coherence*, *Conservation of Distinguishability*, *Parsimony in Generative Mechanisms*, *Intrinsic Determinacy and Emergent Probabilism*, and *Interactive Complexity Maximization*. Together, these elements describe how autaxys, from a state of undifferentiated potentiality (Section 2.5 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), generates the structured and evolving universe we observe. (A more detailed exposition of the Autaxic Generative Engine is found in Section 2.4 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md) of this Plan, synthesized from Chapter 8 of the monograph “A New Way of Seeing,” and discussed in "Autaxys and Autology: Definition, Rationale, and Implications"). The systematic exploration, conceptual refinement, and eventual formalization (Project 6.2 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)) of these core principles and the Autaxic Generative Engine constitute a primary research thrust of autology. This complex endeavor requires the systematic management of diverse knowledge inputs, a process facilitated by the outputs of Project 6.1 (Synthesis of Internal Foundational Works & Conceptual Scaffolding, in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)) and housed within the Autaxys Foundational Knowledge Base (AFKB, Section 7.8 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)). The development and articulation of these concepts are pursued through the collaborative PI-Autologos research operations detailed in Section 8.0 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md) (The Autologos Protocol: An AI Toolkit for Autaxys Research Operations). **1.4. Autology: The Interdisciplinary Study of Autaxys** **Autology** is defined as the specific field of inquiry dedicated to the systematic study, conceptual development, formalization, and exploration of the **autaxys** framework and its implications (Section 2.1 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)). Given that autaxys is proposed as a foundational principle underlying diverse phenomena across multiple scales and domains of reality, autology is inherently and necessarily an interdisciplinary endeavor. To develop a comprehensive understanding of autaxys and its potential explanatory power, autology must draw upon, critically engage with, and seek to synthesize insights from a wide range of disciplines. These include, but are not limited to: 1.4.1. **Fundamental Physics and Cosmology:** For understanding the emergence of spacetime, matter, energy, forces, and the large-scale structure of the universe from autaxic principles (Chapter 11, 12, 13, 14 of *A New Way of Seeing*, Section 2.7 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), and for critically engaging with existing models like ΛCDM and quantum mechanics ([Part III: Autaxys in Context](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_III_Context_URFE.md) of *A New Way of Seeing*). 1.4.2. **Mathematics and Logic:** For developing the formal language required to model the Autaxic Generative Engine (Section 2.4 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)) and ensure the internal consistency of the autaxys framework (Project 6.2 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md), Section 4.6 in [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md)). 1.4.3. **Complexity Science and Systems Theory:** For understanding how complex, adaptive, and emergent behaviors arise from the iterative application of autaxic dynamics (Pillar 5.3 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md), Chapter 14 of *A New Way of Seeing*, Section 2.4.1 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md), Section 2.4.2.2 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)). 1.4.4. **Information Theory and Computation:** For analyzing pattern generation (Section 2.8 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), information processing (as a derivative concept within autaxys, detailed in Chapter 9 of *A New Way of Seeing*, Section 2.2 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), and the potential computational aspects of the Autaxic Generative Engine (Pillar 5.3 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md), and relevant to the Autologos Toolkit analogue in Section 8.8 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)). 1.4.5. **Philosophy:** Particularly ontology (Section 2.1 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md), Chapter 1 of *A New Way of Seeing*, Section 4.1 in [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md)), epistemology (Section 7.1 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md), and Chapter 17 of *A New Way of Seeing*, Section 4.2 in [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md)), philosophy of science (Chapter 15 of *A New Way of Seeing*), and philosophy of mind (Pillar 5.3 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md), and Chapter 16 of *A New Way of Seeing*, Section 4.4 in [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md)), to clarify foundational concepts, refine methodologies, and explore the broader implications of an autaxic worldview ([Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md)). 1.4.6. **Life Sciences and Cognitive Science:** For investigating how the principles of autaxys might inform our understanding of the origin of life, biological organization, and the nature of consciousness and subjective experience (Pillar 5.3 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md), Chapter 14, 16 of *A New Way of Seeing*, Section 4.4 in [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md)). 1.4.7. **Contemplative Studies:** Where appropriate and methodologically rigorous (as outlined in Section 7.4 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md), and discussed in Chapter 6 and 17 of *A New Way of Seeing*), insights from contemplative traditions regarding the nature of experience and reality may also inform aspects of autology, particularly concerning Pillar 5.3 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md) and the Integrated Epistemology (Section 7.1 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)). A central operational component supporting this interdisciplinary synthesis is the systematic management and integration of diverse knowledge. This process is facilitated by the outputs of Project 6.1 (Synthesis of Internal Foundational Works & Conceptual Scaffolding, in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)), housed within the **Autaxys Foundational Knowledge Base (AFKB, Section 7.8 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md))**. The Principal Investigator, with the operational assistance of the **Autologos Toolkit** (as per the protocol detailed in Section 8.0 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)), will engage in this complex interdisciplinary synthesis. This ensures that the development of autaxys is not conducted in isolation but is instead informed by, and contributes to, a broad spectrum of human inquiry. **1.5. Purpose and Scope of this Master Research Plan** This Master Research Plan serves several key purposes: 1.5.1. **Articulate Foundational Concepts:** Clearly define and elaborate upon the current conceptualization of the autaxys framework, including its core ontological commitments, its primary principles, and the proposed architecture and operation of the Autaxic Generative Engine (as detailed primarily in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md), drawing from foundational documents like "Autaxys and Autology: Definition, Rationale, and Implications" and *A New Way of Seeing*). 1.5.2. **Define Philosophical Stance:** Articulate the key philosophical foundations and implications of the autaxys framework across metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical domains ([Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md)). 1.5.3. **Define Research Trajectory:** Outline the overarching research themes (Pillars 5.1-5.5, Section 5.0 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)) and specific, actionable Research Projects (Section 6.0 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)) designed to systematically investigate, develop, formalize, and explore the implications of autaxys. 1.5.4. **Establish Methodological Frameworks:** Detail the Autaxys Research Methodology (ARM, Section 7.0 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)), which encompasses the integrated epistemological approach guiding the inquiry, including third-person scientific methods, rigorous first-person contemplative inquiry, and philosophical analysis (drawing from concepts explored in Part I of this document and Part IV of *A New Way of Seeing*, Section 7.1 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)). 1.5.5. **Specify Autologos Toolkit Operational Protocol:** Describe the **Autologos Protocol (Section 8.0 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md))**, which outlines the Autologos Toolkit-powered research operations, the roles of its constituent AI applications, and the utilization of systematic knowledge management processes (including the outputs of Project 6.1, in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md), housed in the AFKB, Section 7.8 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)) in executing this research. 1.5.6. **Explore the Autaxic Vista:** Articulate the long-term vision, implications for meaning and purpose, and transformative potential of the autaxys framework (Part VI). 1.5.7. **Provide Strategic Roadmap:** Present a phased research roadmap (Section 10.0, Part VII) with indicative timelines, milestones, and deliverables, acknowledging the long-term and iterative nature of foundational research. 1.5.8. **Outline Dissemination and Engagement Strategy:** Detail the principles and strategies for disseminating research findings, fostering collaboration, and engaging with the broader academic and public communities (Section 11.0, Part VII). 1.5.9. **Define Plan Evolution and Governance:** Specify the processes for reviewing, updating, and ensuring the continued relevance and integrity of this Master Plan itself (Section 12.0, Part VII). 1.5.10. **Explore Potential Applications:** Identify and conceptually explore potential applications and broader implications of the autaxys framework across various domains, including technology, science, and society (Part VIII). 1.5.11. **Include Appendices:** Provide supplementary materials that support the core content of this Master Plan (Part IX). The scope of this Plan encompasses all aspects of autaxys/autology development, from refining foundational theory and philosophical implications to proposing specific research projects and strategies for dissemination and exploring its broader potential. **1.6. Guiding Philosophy and Long-Term Vision for Autaxys Research** The research program outlined in this Master Plan is guided by a commitment to: 1.6.1. **Rigorous Inquiry:** Striving for conceptual clarity, logical consistency, and (where possible) empirical grounding, even when exploring highly abstract or speculative domains. 1.6.2. **Intellectual Humility:** Acknowledging the considerable difficulty of foundational questions and the provisional nature of current understanding. 1.6.3. **Openness and Evolution:** Embracing autaxys and this Plan itself as evolving frameworks, responsive to new evidence, insights, and critiques. 1.6.4. **Interdisciplinary Synthesis:** Recognizing that understanding autaxys requires drawing upon and integrating knowledge from diverse fields. 1.6.5. **Transformative Potential:** Pursuing autaxys not just as an intellectual exercise, but with an appreciation for its potential to offer a more coherent, meaningful, and integrated understanding of reality and our place within it, opening the 'Autaxic Vista' for new horizons of knowledge and being (as discussed in Part VI and Part IV of 'A New Way of Seeing'). A distinguishing feature and core methodological pillar of the autaxys research program is its foundational reliance on a synergistic PI-Autologos partnership. The Principal Investigator collaborates closely with the **Autologos Toolkit, a suite of custom-designed AI applications (conceptualized collectively as a “Genesis Engine” and a research support system)**, specifically developed by the PI to assist in knowledge integration, iterative refinement, critical analysis, and rigorous process management for this foundational inquiry. This approach is not merely a matter of operational efficiency; it is also a significant methodological exploration. As detailed in **Section 8.0 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md) (The Autologos Protocol: An AI Toolkit for Autaxys Research Operations)**, the operational dynamics of the various Autologos applications—their pattern processing, information integration, analytical capabilities, and iterative convergence on coherent solutions—are considered potentially reflective of, or analogous to, aspects of the autaxic principles under investigation (Section 8.8 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)). This premise, while foundational to the methodology, is itself a subject of ongoing inquiry and critical examination within autology. Supporting this collaborative endeavor is the systematic management of diverse knowledge, including internal foundational works (outputs of Project 6.1, in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)) and vast interdisciplinary insights, housed within the **Autaxys Foundational Knowledge Base (AFKB, Section 7.8 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md))**. The aspiration for the Autologos Toolkit to seamlessly interact with and manage persistent knowledge artifacts within the AFKB is a core development target. This researcher-Autologos partnership, utilizing a bespoke AI toolkit, is itself a novel aspect of this inquiry, aiming to leverage the unique capabilities of these custom applications to navigate and synthesize the complexities of foundational theory development in a transparent, rigorous, and continuously evolving manner. **1.7. Historical Context & Foundational Lineage** This section provides a consolidated overview of the intellectual lineage leading to the autaxys framework, synthesizing key insights from precursor frameworks and foundational documents like the monograph *A New Way of Seeing*, with the detailed knowledge housed in the Autaxys Foundational Knowledge Base (AFKB, Section 7.8 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)). Its purpose is to ground the subsequent research plan ([Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)) in a well-understood foundational context. The monograph *[A New Way of Seeing](_New%20Way%20of%20Seeing.md)* (refer to `01_Foundational_Documents/A_New_Way_of_Seeing_Reference.md` or Zenodo link), is a cornerstone of the autology research program. It introduces and rigorously defines the core concept of **autaxys** (Chapter 7), establishing it as the fundamental ontological principle of the framework (Section 2.1 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)). This principle, characterized by intrinsic self-organization and generative capacity, is operationalized through the **Generative Engine** (Chapter 8, Section 2.4 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), a core concept that provides the mechanism for autaxys to produce the patterns, structures, and phenomena observed in the universe (Section 2.8 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)). The monograph details the specific dynamics of this engine, including **Relational Processing (Dynamic I)**, which explains how distinctions and relations are created and transformed (Section 2.4.1 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md), Section 2.5 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), and **Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking (Dynamic II)**, which accounts for the emergence of distinct forms and structures from an initially undifferentiated state (Section 2.4.1 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md), Section 2.4.6 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)). These dynamics are shown to be guided by fundamental meta-logical principles, such as **Intrinsic Coherence (Meta-Logic I)**, which ensures the self-consistency and compatibility of generated patterns (Section 2.4.2 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md), Section 2.6 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), and **Conservation of Distinguishability (Meta-Logic II)**, which explains the persistence of patterns and provides a basis for the origin of conservation laws (Chapter 10, Section 2.4.2 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md), Section 2.4.2.1 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)). *A New Way of Seeing* explicitly advocates for a **pattern-based ontology** (Chapter 1, Section 4.1 in [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md)), a philosophical stance that aligns directly with the core tenets of autaxys by prioritizing patterns over substances as the fundamental constituents of reality (Section 2.8 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)). Furthermore, the work develops the concept of **emergent spacetime** (Chapter 12, Section 2.7.2 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), providing a specific model for how spacetime arises from autaxic relational processing, thereby challenging the conventional assumption of a pre-existing spacetime container. Finally, the monograph discusses the **Î₁ (infoton) prediction** (Chapter 15) arising from the related Infomatics framework. While this prediction presents a potential challenge or even a falsification of a specific implementation of autaxic principles (Infomatics v3.3), it also highlights the potential for autaxys to generate novel predictions beyond the Standard Model, prompting further investigation into the limits of current physical theories and experimental paradigms. The monograph also critically deconstructs conventional perception and scientific method (Part I, Chapters 1-6) and explores the implications of autaxys for cosmology (Chapter 14, Section 2.7.1 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), mass and energy (Chapter 13, Section 2.7.3 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), mind and consciousness (Chapter 16, Section 4.4 in [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md)), and epistemology (Chapter 17, Section 4.2 in [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md)). **1.7.1. Lineage of Ideas: Key Learnings from Precursor Frameworks** The conceptual foundations of the **autaxys** framework are not an isolated development but represent an evolution of thought emerging from a sustained, multi-year inquiry into foundational questions. This inquiry has involved the development and critical examination of several precursor conceptual frameworks and theoretical explorations. This section serves as a high-level summary of that intellectual lineage, highlighting the critical insights and overarching thematic learnings that have directly shaped the formulation of autaxys. **The comprehensive, detailed internal literature review and analysis of these precursor frameworks constitutes a substantial body of work, managed as a core component of Project 6.1 (Synthesis of Internal Foundational Works & Conceptual Scaffolding for autaxys, in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)) and housed within the Autaxys Foundational Knowledge Base (AFKB, Section 7.8 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)).** This dedicated review, which includes works such as ***A New Way of Seeing***, *Implied Discretization*, *The Information Spectrum*, *Infomatics (various versions)*, *Modern Physics Metrology*, *Strange Loops of Being*, and *Contemplative Science*, systematically documents (as detailed in Section 6.1 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md) and stored in the AFKB): 1.7.1.1. The central thesis, goals, and primary questions addressed by each precursor framework or significant internal work. 1.7.1.2. Their key insights, valuable contributions, and partial successes. 1.7.1.3. Their identified limitations, shortcomings, or the new problems they revealed. 1.7.1.4. The specific “lessons carried forward” that directly informed the development of subsequent ideas and, ultimately, the autaxys framework. This detailed internal literature review, housed and continuously refined through Section 6.1 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md) and the AFKB, provides a transparent intellectual audit trail for the development of autaxys. It ensures that past insights and resolved conceptual issues are actively built upon, and it allows the research team (PI assisted by the Autologos Toolkit) to continuously analyze this lineage, identify recurring theoretical challenges, and refine the core principles of autaxys to avoid previous pitfalls. **Key Thematic Learnings for Autaxys (Synthesized Summary):** Based on the evolution through these precursor explorations (detailed in Appendix 14.4, Part IX and documented in the AFKB, Section 7.8 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)), the following overarching thematic learnings have been pivotal in shaping the autaxys framework. *This summary is based on the initial phase of the internal review being conducted as part of Section 6.1, in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md):* 1.7.1.5. **The Primacy of Process over Static Substance:** Early explorations highlighted the limitations of substance-based ontologies, leading to autaxys’s core commitment to a process-pattern understanding of reality (drawing insights from works like *Strange Loops of Being* and critiques within Chapter 1 of *A New Way of Seeing*, as documented in the AFKB, Section 4.1 in [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md)). 1.7.1.6. **The Need for Intrinsic Generative Principles:** Attempts to define dynamics via external rules or operators in some precursor frameworks proved problematic, underscoring the necessity for the autaxys concept of an intrinsically operating Autaxic Generative Engine with immanent *meta-logical principles* (informed by experiences in *Information Dynamics* and *Foundational Information Dynamics*, documented in the AFKB, Section 2.4 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)). 1.7.1.7. **Information as a Derivative, Not Foundational, Concept:** Challenges in building a consistent foundational theory from information-as-primary (e.g., in some versions of *Infomatics* and *Informational Ontology*) led to the autaxys stance that information is an emergent property of more fundamental relational patterns (refined in *The Information Spectrum* and Chapter 9 of *A New Way of Seeing*, documented in the AFKB, Section 2.2 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)). 1.7.1.8. **Limitations of Axiomatic or Purely Computational Approaches:** Frameworks that relied solely on axiomatic systems or computational rules often struggled with grounding these rules in physical reality or explaining the origin of fundamental principles, reinforcing the need for an intrinsically generative principle (lessons from *Logically Consistent Reality Framework* and *Computational Emergence*, documented in the AFKB, Section 2.4 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)). 1.7.1.9. **Importance of Testability and Rigor, Even with Speculative Ideas:** The outcome of the Î₁ prediction from Infomatics v3.3, despite its eventual falsification in that specific form, underscored the value of principle-driven prediction and the need for rigorous confrontation with empirical reality, while also highlighting the potential for established paradigms to have blind spots (critically examined in Project 6.6 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md) and Chapter 15 of *A New Way of Seeing*, documented in the AFKB). 1.7.1.10. **Critique of Conventional Metrology and its Impact on Foundational Physics:** Analysis revealed how measurement conventions and the definition of fundamental constants can entrench existing paradigms and potentially create theoretical artifacts like the "dark sector" (lessons from *Modern Physics Metrology*, Chapter 14 of *A New Way of Seeing*, documented in the AFKB, Section 2.7.1 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)). 1.7.1.11. **The Value of Contemplative Inquiry for Understanding Experience:** Explorations into contemplative states and methodologies suggested a potential pathway for gaining insights into the nature of consciousness and reality from a first-person perspective, complementing third-person scientific methods (insights from *Contemplative Science*, Chapters 6 and 17 of *A New Way of Seeing*, documented in the AFKB, Section 7.4 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)). This systematic engagement with intellectual history, facilitated by Section 6.1 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md) and the AFKB, ensures that current autaxys research is robustly grounded in prior exploration and continuously informed by both past successes and limitations. --- This overview file links to the following detailed parts of the Master Plan: * [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md) * [Part III: Autaxys in Context](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_III_Context_URFE.md) * [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md) * [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md) --- **(Part VI: The Autaxic Vista, Part VII: Strategic Planning, Part VIII: Potential Applications, and Part IX: Appendices will follow below, as per the content in AUTX_Master_Plan_v1.66_Hierarchical_Lists.md, with links to external/other files for appendices where appropriate.)** --- **Part VI: The Autaxic Vista** **9.0 Meaning and Purpose in a Self-Generated Cosmos** The long-term vision for autaxys research, the "Autaxic Vista" (Section 1.6, Part I), is not just about theoretical understanding but also about the potential for a more meaningful and integrated relationship with reality. 9.0.1. **Meaning as Emergent Coherence and Relational Depth:** Within an autaxic reality, meaning is not discovered as an external truth, but emerges from the intricate and coherent patterns of relation. Just as physical laws arise from the intrinsic *meta-logic* (Section 2.4.2 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)) and dynamics (Section 2.4.1 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)) of autaxys (Section 2.4 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md), Section 2.6 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md), Section 4.1 in [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md)), meaning arises from the complex interplay of patterns (Section 2.8 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), particularly in systems capable of high degrees of **ontological closure** and **formal self-referential stability** (Section 2.6.2.1 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)) (Section 2.6 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md), Section 4.1.5 in [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md)), such as conscious beings (Section 4.4 in [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md), Project 6.4 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)). The richness and depth of meaning are hypothesized to correlate with the complexity, integration, and coherence of these relational patterns. Understanding *how* meaning emerges from these patterns – how specific configurations of definitionally emergent relational types (Section 2.5.3 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)) give rise to subjective significance – is a key philosophical and potentially scientific exploration within autology (linking to Project 6.4 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md) and Section 4.4 in [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md)). Meaning is thus not a static property but a dynamic, evolving aspect of the universe’s self-articulation, most intensely experienced in systems capable of complex self-constitution. (See Section 2.8 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md) for how patterns are understood). 9.0.2. **Purpose as Intrinsic Actualization and Complexity:** While autaxys is fundamentally non-teleological in the sense of lacking an external designer or predetermined endpoint, the **intrinsic drive** within undifferentiated potentiality (Section 2.5.2 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)) can be interpreted not as a goal, but as an inherent propensity or 'tendency' towards actualization, differentiation, and increasing complexity. This suggests a universe that is fundamentally *directed* towards richer, more intricate forms of patterned existence, not by a plan, but by the deepest expression of its own nature (Meta-Logic V: Interactive Complexity Maximization, Section 2.4.2.2 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)). Human purpose, from this perspective, can be seen as participating in this intrinsic cosmic drive. By creating, organizing, and fostering complexity and coherence – whether in scientific understanding, artistic expression, technological innovation, or personal growth – human activity aligns with and contributes to the universe’s ongoing self-articulation and the achievement of higher levels of ontological closure in complex systems (Section 2.6 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)). Purpose is thus not externally assigned but is found within the active engagement with the intrinsic generative process of reality. 9.0.3. **The Quest for Understanding as Intrinsic Value:** In an autaxic framework where reality is intrinsically rational (*meta-logic*, Section 2.4.2 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)) and coherent (*Intrinsic Coherence*/Ontological Closure, Section 2.6 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), the human endeavor to understand this reality – the core mission of autology – takes on intrinsic value. The pursuit of knowledge, the search for coherence, and the drive to articulate the fundamental principles of reality are seen as a reflection of the universe’s own inherent tendency towards self-articulation and intelligibility. The Integrated Epistemology (Section 7.1 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)), which seeks to integrate diverse modes of knowing, becomes a path towards a more complete participation in this cosmic self-understanding. **9.1. The Transformative Potential of Autology** The successful development and validation of the autaxys framework holds the potential to transform not only our scientific understanding but also our technological capabilities, philosophical perspectives, and even societal structures. This section expands upon the transformative vision introduced in Section 1.6, Part I and links to the potential applications in Part VIII. 9.1.1. **Paradigm Shift in Fundamental Science:** As outlined in the research pillars (Section 5.0 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)), autaxys aims to provide a unified, generative account for phenomena currently addressed by disparate theories in physics and cosmology (Section 2.7 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)). A successful formalization (Project 6.2 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)) and empirical validation (Pillar 5.2, Pillar 5.5 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)) could lead to a fundamental paradigm shift, replacing existing axiomatic or substance-based frameworks with a dynamic, process-pattern ontology (Section 4.1 in [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md), Section 2.8 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)) where spacetime (Section 2.7.2 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), matter, energy (Section 2.7.3 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), and laws (Section 2.7.3 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)) emerge from a single intrinsic principle constrained by ontological closure (Section 2.6 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)). This would redefine the fundamental questions and research directions in these fields. (See Section 2.8 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md) for how these are understood as patterns). 9.1.2. **New Technological Frontiers:** The potential applications discussed in Part VIII (Section 13.0) – from autaxys-inspired AI and A-Life to novel materials science and biological engineering – represent significant new technological frontiers. Understanding reality’s fundamental generative principles (intrinsic drive, emergent types/composition rules, ontological closure) could unlock capabilities far beyond current approaches that are often based on manipulating emergent properties rather than leveraging foundational dynamics. 9.1.3. **Re-shaping Philosophical Discourse:** Autaxys offers novel perspectives on core philosophical problems in ontology, epistemology, and philosophy of mind ([Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md)). Its process-pattern ontology (Section 4.1 in [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md)), account of emergent consciousness linked to ontological closure (Section 4.4 in [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md)), and Integrated Epistemology (Section 7.1 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)) challenge established philosophical positions and could stimulate new debates and avenues of inquiry. 9.1.4. **Impact on Worldview and Society:** A shift towards an autaxic worldview could have broader societal impacts. Understanding reality as fundamentally interconnected, dynamic, and intrinsically ordered could foster a greater sense of ecological awareness, challenge anthropocentric biases, and potentially inform new approaches to complex societal problems by viewing them as emergent patterns within larger autaxic systems (Section 2.8 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)). The ethical considerations outlined in Section 7.7 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md), particularly regarding the intrinsic value of coherence and complexity, could gain new relevance in shaping human action and organization. (See Section 2.8 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md) for how patterns are understood). **9.2. Autaxys and the Future of Knowledge and Being** The ultimate aspiration of autology is a deeper understanding of reality that integrates knowledge (epistemology) with the experience of being (ontology), leading to a more profound and coherent relationship with the cosmos. 9.2.1. **Towards an Autaxic Synthesis:** The 'Autaxic Synthesis' envisioned in *A New Way of Seeing* (Chapter 18) represents a state of knowledge where the insights from diverse modes of inquiry (third-person science, first-person contemplation, philosophical analysis – Section 7.1 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)) are deeply integrated with our experience of being within it (ontology), leading to a more profound and coherent relationship with the cosmos. By understanding ourselves as complex, self-constituting patterns within the larger autaxic process (Section 2.8 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), and by using both third-person and first-person methods to explore this reality, we can potentially achieve a more unified and meaningful perspective on our place in the cosmos. This is the ultimate philosophical aspiration of autology. (See Section 2.8 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md) for how patterns are understood). 9.2.2. **Cultivating Autaxic Awareness:** The Integrated Epistemology (Section 7.1 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)), particularly the rigorous practice of first-person contemplative inquiry (Section 7.4 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)), aims to cultivate a form of "autaxic awareness"—a direct, experiential apprehension of the dynamic, relational, and coherent nature of reality as it unfolds. This is not about intellectual understanding alone, but about a felt sense of participation in the intrinsic generative process (Section 2.4 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), potentially offering insights into the phenomenal character of fundamental autaxic principles and the nature of ontological closure in conscious experience (Section 4.4 in [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md)). This awareness is hypothesized to be the subjective counterpart to the objective understanding gained through formal modeling and empirical engagement. 9.2.3. **Integrated Being and Knowing:** The Autaxic Vista culminates in the possibility of an integrated state of being and knowing, where the intellectual understanding of autaxys aligns with and is informed by direct experience. This synthesis could lead to a profound sense of connection, purpose, and clarity, grounded not in dogma or external authority, but in a rigorous, multi-faceted engagement with the intrinsic nature of reality itself. This is the transformative potential of autology for the individual and, potentially, for collective human consciousness. --- **Part VII: Strategic Planning** **10.0 Phased Research Roadmap** This section outlines a strategic, phased roadmap for the Autaxys Research & Development Program. Given the foundational nature and ambitious scope of autology, a phased approach allows for iterative development, focused effort on prerequisite tasks, and adaptation based on emerging insights. The phases are indicative and may overlap; **indeed, conceptual development, literature-based groundwork, and preliminary explorations for activities listed in later phases can, and often should, proceed in parallel with the core formalization and modeling efforts of earlier phases.** Progress in one area may accelerate or reshape priorities in others. Within each phase, specific WBS items will be prioritized to ensure critical path progress, especially given the single-PI operational model. **10.1. Phase 1: Foundational Formalization & Core Model Development** 10.1.1. **Overarching Goal:** To establish a more rigorous formal (mathematical and/or computational) basis for the core Autaxic Generative Engine (Section 2.4 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)) and to begin developing initial predictive models for simple emergent phenomena. This phase directly addresses the “Lack of Formalization” identified as a critical weakness (Section 3.4.2 in [Part III: Autaxys in Context](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_III_Context_URFE.md), Section 3.7 in [Part III: Autaxys in Context](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_III_Context_URFE.md)) and is driven by the imperative discussed in Section 3.5 in [Part III: Autaxys in Context](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_III_Context_URFE.md). It is also informed by the philosophical considerations in Section 4.1 in [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md) and 4.2 in [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md) regarding process ontology, intrinsic rationality, and the role of formalization in epistemology. 10.1.2. **Primary Pillar Focus:** Pillar 5.1 (Foundational Theory & Formalization of Autaxys), as detailed in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md). 10.1.3. **Key Projects & Activities (refer to Section 6.0 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md) for full project details):** 10.1.3.1. **Execution of Project 6.1:** Initiation and ongoing execution of the Synthesis of Internal Foundational Works & Conceptual Scaffolding for autaxys, establishing the AFKB (Section 7.8 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)) and commencing thematic synthesis (as detailed in Section 6.1 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)). This provides the necessary intellectual foundation. (WBS 1.2.1) 10.1.3.2. **Execution of Project 6.2:** Formal Mathematical and Computational Modeling of the Autaxic Generative Engine (as detailed in Section 6.2 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)). This is the core activity of Phase 1 and includes: (WBS 1.2.2) 10.1.3.2.1. Systematic review of existing formalisms (Section 3.5.4 in [Part III: Autaxys in Context](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_III_Context_URFE.md)), focusing on their suitability for modeling intrinsic drive (Section 2.5.2 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), emergent types/composition rules (Section 2.5.3 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), and ontological closure (Section 2.6 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)). 10.1.3.2.2. Development of initial symbolic language/notations for key autaxic concepts (Section 3.5.5 in [Part III: Autaxys in Context](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_III_Context_URFE.md)). 10.1.3.2.3. Creation of prototype computational or formal models for individual dynamics (e.g., a *Relational Processing* simulator showing genesis from potential, a model of *Intrinsic Coherence* as an ontological filter) and their basic interactions under *meta-logical constraints* (Section 2.4.2 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)). 10.1.3.2.4. Defining initial validation criteria for these conceptual and formal models (linking to Section 8.4 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)). 10.1.3.2.5. Preliminary exploration of integrating different formalisms if an ensemble approach is deemed necessary (Section 3.5.4 in [Part III: Autaxys in Context](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_III_Context_URFE.md)). 10.1.3.3. **Refinement of Core Ontology:** Based on insights from initial formalization efforts and Project 6.1 outputs (in the AFKB, Section 7.8 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)), further refine the definitions and interrelations of core autaxic concepts (feeding back into Section 2.1 Glossary in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md) and 2.4 Engine Exposition in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), ensuring consistency with formal models of intrinsic drive, emergent types, and ontological closure, and reflecting the philosophical implications discussed in [Part IV: Philosophical Foundations & Implications](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_IV_Philosophical_Foundations.md), Section 4.1. (WBS 1.2.3) 10.1.3.4. **Methodology Solidification (ARM v1.0):** Solidify the Autaxys Research Methodology (Section 7.0 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)) based on early experiences in formalization and Project 6.1 (utilizing the AFKB, Section 7.8 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)), including initial development and application of PEAP (from Project 6.5 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)) for evaluating early conceptual predictions and formal model outputs. Refine guidelines for the Integrated Epistemology (Section 7.1 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)), particularly the interaction between formal modeling, conceptual analysis, and initial contemplative insights. (WBS 1.2.4) 10.1.3.5. **Preliminary “Autaxic Table of Patterns” Scaffolding:** Begin conceptual work on the parameters and organizational principles for the **Autaxic Table of Patterns** (Project 6.7 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md), Section 2.8.5 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)), informed by initial modeling of pattern stability (linked to ontological closure, Section 2.6 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)) and the re-evaluation of the Î₁ concept (Project 6.6 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)). This early work helps guide formalization efforts by identifying target structures (Section 2.8 in [Part II: Core Autaxic Concepts](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_II_Core_Concepts.md)). (WBS 1.2.5) 10.1.4. **Phase 1 Critical Success Factors & Prioritized Tasks:** 10.1.4.1. Substantial progress on Project 6.2, particularly initial formalism selection and prototype models for core dynamics and ontological closure (WBS 1.2.2.1, 1.2.2.2, 1.2.2.3). 10.1.4.2. Establishment of a functional AFKB (Project 6.1) capable of supporting ongoing conceptual refinement and formalization efforts (WBS 1.2.1). 10.1.4.3. Solidification of ARM v1.0, including a working PEAP (Project 6.5) (WBS 1.2.4). 10.1.5. **Key Milestones/Deliverables for Phase 1:** 10.1.5.1. Initial version of the Autaxys Foundational Knowledge Base (AFKB) populated with key internal works and initial external literature reviews (from Project 6.1 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)). 10.1.5.2. Report on suitable formalisms and potential integration strategies for modeling autaxys (from Project 6.2 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)). 10.1.5.3. Initial formal language/notation for autaxic dynamics, emergent types, and ontological closure (from Project 6.2 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)). 10.1.5.4. Working proof-of-concept computational or formal models demonstrating the intrinsic drive, the use of definitionally emergent types/composition rules, the intrinsic enforcement of ontological closure, and the emergence of at least one simple, stable pattern (from Project 6.2 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)). 10.1.5.5. First internal version of a detailed “Autaxic Table of Patterns” conceptual framework, outlining potential organizing principles and parameters derived from early formal insights (from Project 6.7 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)). 10.1.5.6. Initial PEAP document and guidelines for interdisciplinary research and epistemological integration (from Project 6.5 in [Part V: Research Framework](AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Part_V_Research_Framework_Intro_Pillars.md)). 10.1.5.7. Reviewed and updated foundational documents (e.g., “Autaxys and its Generative Engine,” Autaxys Ultimate Reality Framework Examination if new insights demand). **(The rest of Part VII, Part VIII, and Part IX will follow, with similar hierarchical numbering and Markdown links where appropriate.)** --- END FILE: 00_Master_Plan/AUTX_Master_Plan_v2.0_Overview.md ---