The Core Moral Equation: A Mathematical Model for Determining Moral Action under the Normative Ethical Theory of Infrastructuralism

This document introduces the Core Moral Equation (CME), a mathematical model derived from Infrastructuralism, a normative ethical theory that evaluates moral actions based on their impact on shared, viability-enabling infrastructure. The CME formalizes the relationship between agents, infrastructure, and moral advantage, framing failure to reinvest in shared systems as a measurable risk to moral agency itself. It introduces the Viability Margin (VM) and Viability Threshold (Vt) to define the conditions under which agents collapse and moral judgment ceases. The Herd Depletion Effect (HDE) is also defined as a mechanism of collective erosion. Though presented as a standalone contribution, the CME serves as the quantitative backbone of the broader Herd Ethics framework—an ethical framework that extends to AI systems, corporations, institutions, and collective agents—any entity whose existence and agency depend on shared infrastructure. This paper lays the groundwork for future extensions where external values can be integrated into the model, enabling real-world moral risk assessment and policy design.