Environment Design for Stable Learning in Hierarchical Adaptive Systems

This paper introduces Environment Design Theory (EDT), a framework for achieving autonomous stability in hierarchical adaptive multi-agent systems by cultivating interaction terrain rather than controlling agents or proliferating rules. EDT formalizes a branching manifold architecture that reduces conflict density scaling from O(n²) to O((n/B)²), derives a conditionally closed three-state ODE system governing stress-capacity-coordination dynamics, and introduces an endogenous risk index κ that detects when self-modification outpaces adaptive capacity. Seven falsifiable predictions with structural micro-validations are provided.