Sustenesis Glossary
Sustenesis
The formation and preservation of stable coherence among differentiated elements under conditions of constraint, correction, and effective operation.
Sustenesis Theory
A philosophical framework for understanding existence, truth, knowledge, meaning, value, consciousness, and artificial intelligence through the formation and maintenance of coherent structures.
维成
The Chinese conceptual counterpart of Sustenesis. It refers to the way differentiated elements are formed, maintained, and sustained as a coherent structure.
维成论
The Chinese name for Sustenesis Theory.
Stable coherence
A form of coherence that can be preserved, invoked, tested, corrected, and operated within a system rather than merely appearing as a temporary fit among parts.
Differentiated elements
The distinct components, forces, meanings, relations, or functions that do not disappear into sameness but are organized within a coherent structure.
Constraint
The condition, boundary, rule, relation, force, or structure that limits difference and allows coherence to become maintainable.
Correction
The process by which a system responds to error, disturbance, contradiction, or instability in order to preserve or restore coherence.
Effective operation
The ability of a coherent structure to produce reliable effects, guide action, support judgment, or maintain its function under real conditions.
Existence
The stable presentation of a sustenetic structure at a certain scale.
Truth
The stable coherence formed between cognitive structure and object structure under conditions of verification.
Knowledge
Stable coherence preserved, invoked, tested, corrected, and effectively operated within a system.
Meaning
The position and function of differentiated elements within a sustenetic structure.
Value
The directional expression through which a sustenetic structure maintains, repairs, extends, and improves itself.
Consciousness
The reflexive integration of a sustenetic structure in relation to itself and its environment.
Self
A reflexive sustenetic structure maintained through time, memory, action, and social recognition.
Freedom
The capacity of a subject to form self-consistent action within multiple constraints.
Reason
The capacity of a cognitive system to maintain consistency of judgment under rule-governed constraints.
Understanding
The formation of maintainable coherence within a meaning structure. Understanding is not necessary for truth, but it helps truth and knowledge become more stable, transferable, and easier to sustain.