The Theory of the Scale of Perception: Influence on Truth, Falsehood, and Knowledge Integration

Human cognition is fundamentally limited in its capacity to process the vast complexity of phenomena in nature, society, and history. This study introduces the Theory of the Scale of Perception as a cognitive framework that formalizes the conditions under which phenomena are accessible to observers. The theory integrates the concepts of measure and identity, distinguishing ontological existence from epistemic accessibility. It demonstrates that scales of perception determine which parameters of a phenomenon can be known, how truths and falsehoods are generated, and how knowledge is structured, including the emergence of second-order falsehoods when phenomena are interpreted across incompatible scales. The framework also addresses mechanisms for scale transitions, thresholds of perception, and the structural replacement of observable parameters. Potential applications of scale-expansion tools, including artificial intelligence, are considered for post-scale cognition, offering new approaches to understanding complex systems while accounting for human cognitive constraints. The proposed theory provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary methodology linking physics, biology, social sciences, and epistemology, highlighting the profound influence of perceptual scales on knowledge, truth, and decision-making. Preprint version. Not peer reviewed.