Intelligence: The Architecture of Ordered Problem-Solving

Intelligence is the third layer of the Unified Mind Architecture (UMA). This paper defines intelligence as the problem‑solving architecture that emerges only after ordered state and present state are established. Intelligence identifies problems, constructs representational transformations, evaluates solution paths, and selects actions under structural constraints. It is the mode that enables a mind to generate coherent solutions rather than isolated responses. The paper formalizes the conditions required for problem‑solving architecture to arise, the mechanisms that support representational transformation, and the structural boundaries that distinguish genuine intelligence from systems that merely simulate intelligent behavior. Intelligence is substrate‑independent but structure‑dependent, emerging only when the necessary architectural prerequisites are satisfied. This work positions intelligence as the active layer of UMA, linking the stability of cognition and the continuity of consciousness to the directional capabilities of a problem‑solving mind. It provides the foundation for the remaining layers of agency and closure.