Systems, Emergence, and the Conditions of Personhood: A Normative Theory Centered on Self-as-an-End

{"Full":[0],"bilingual":[1],"text":[2],"and":[3,27,115,123,174,210,216,226],"framework":[4],"available":[5],"at":[6,198],"self-as-an-end.net":[7],"—":[8],"Framework":[9],"reference:":[10],"self-as-an-end.net/framework.html":[11],"This":[12,145],"dissertation":[13,94,146,178,220],"develops":[14,147],"a":[15,48,52,83,96,108,148,183],"normative":[16,227],"social":[17,217],"theory":[18],"centered":[19],"on":[20],"the":[21,29,72,93,134,139,161,189,222],"concept":[22],"of":[23,75,150,160,213],"\\"Self-as-an-End.\\"":[24],"Building":[25],"upon":[26,133],"extending":[28],"Kantian":[30],"imperative":[31],"that":[32],"human":[33],"beings":[34],"should":[35,64],"always":[36],"be":[37,65,110],"treated":[38],"as":[39,71,82,107,182],"ends":[40],"in":[41,67],"themselves,":[42],"this":[43,91,219],"work":[44],"transforms":[45],"it":[46],"from":[47],"moral":[49],"proposition":[50],"into":[51],"structural":[53,184],"requirement":[54],"for":[55,85,104],"institutional":[56,69,215],"design.":[57],"The":[58,177],"core":[59],"argument":[60],"is:":[61],"Every":[62],"individual":[63],"recognized":[66,106],"their":[68,76,125],"environment":[70],"ultimate":[73],"source":[74],"own":[77,126],"life":[78],"purposes,":[79],"rather":[80],"than":[81],"means":[84],"external":[86],"system":[87],"objectives.":[88],"To":[89],"operationalize":[90],"principle,":[92],"proposes":[95,179],"two-layer":[97],"structure:":[98],"Base":[99,140],"Layer":[100,117,136],"(the":[101,118],"minimum":[102],"conditions":[103],"being":[105],"person—must":[109],"unconditionally":[111],"maintained":[112],"by":[113],"systems)":[114],"Emergence":[116,135],"space":[119],"where":[120],"individuals":[121,186],"form":[122],"pursue":[124],"purposes—systems":[127],"must":[128,187],"withdraw).":[129],"When":[130],"systems":[131],"intrude":[132],"or":[137,196],"erode":[138],"Layer,":[141],"\\"systemic":[142],"overreach\\"":[143],"occurs.":[144],"typology":[149],"overreach,":[151],"including:":[152],"market":[153],"monopolization,":[154],"benevolent":[155],"permeation,":[156],"direct":[157],"guidance,":[158],"tyranny":[159],"majority,":[162],"algorithmic":[163],"colonization,":[164,166,168,173],"metric":[165],"rule":[167],"financialized":[169],"governance,":[170],"collective":[171],"interest":[172],"intimate":[175],"colonization.":[176],"\\"Fork":[180],"Rights\\"":[181],"safeguard:":[185],"retain":[188],"substantive":[190],"capacity":[191],"to":[192],"change":[193],"directions,":[194],"paths,":[195],"identities":[197],"bearable":[199],"cost.":[200],"Through":[201],"dialogue":[202],"with":[203],"five":[204],"classical":[205],"theories—Rawls,":[206],"Nozick,":[207],"Habermas,":[208],"utilitarianism,":[209],"Foucault—and":[211],"analysis":[212],"thirteen":[214],"cases,":[218],"demonstrates":[221],"framework's":[223],"explanatory":[224],"power":[225],"value.":[228]}

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-09-10
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18528812
Primary Topic
Critical Realism in Sociology
Type
preprint
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
preprint

Systems, Emergence, and the Conditions of Personhood: A Normative Theory Centered on Self-as-an-End

Han Qin
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Critical Realism in Sociology
preprint

Systems, Emergence, and the Conditions of Personhood: A Normative Theory Centered on Self-as-an-End

Han Qin
preprint en

Abstract

Full bilingual text and framework available at self-as-an-end.net — Framework reference: self-as-an-end.net/framework.html This dissertation develops a normative social theory centered on the concept of "Self-as-an-End." Building upon and extending the Kantian imperative that human beings should always be treated as ends in themselves, this work transforms it from a moral proposition into a structural requirement for institutional design. The core argument is: Every individual should be recognized in their institutional environment as the ultimate source of their own life purposes, rather than as a means for external system objectives. To operationalize this principle, the dissertation proposes a two-layer structure: Base Layer (the minimum conditions for being recognized as a person—must be unconditionally maintained by systems) and Emergence Layer (the space where individuals form and pursue their own purposes—systems must withdraw). When systems intrude upon the Emergence Layer or erode the Base Layer, "systemic overreach" occurs. This dissertation develops a typology of overreach, including: market monopolization, benevolent permeation, direct guidance, tyranny of the majority, algorithmic colonization, metric colonization, rule colonization, financialized governance, collective interest colonization, and intimate colonization. The dissertation proposes "Fork Rights" as a structural safeguard: individuals must retain the substantive capacity to change directions, paths, or identities at bearable cost. Through dialogue with five classical theories—Rawls, Nozick, Habermas, utilitarianism, and Foucault—and analysis of thirteen institutional and social cases, this dissertation demonstrates the framework's explanatory power and normative value.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Critical Realism in Sociology
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.