The Principle of Identity as Preserved Coherence Under Change

This working paper introduces a domain-independent principle in which identity is defined as preserved coherence within bounded tolerances of change. Building on the ontological position developed in The Principle of Change Without Time as a Causal Agent (Bellori, 2026, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18471918), identity is reformulated as a structurally bounded region of coherence across successive transformations rather than persistence in time. The paper presents:– a formal core model,– explicit definitions of coherence, tolerance, and identity region,– criteria for rupture and recovery,– falsifiability conditions,– and domain-independent applicability across technical, biological, psychological, and organizational systems. Identity is treated as system-intrinsic and independent of observation in its existence, while recognition and attribution are considered derivative. This paper is descriptive rather than causal and proposes a structural criterion for continuity under change without recourse to essence, teleology, or time as a foundational concept. Version noteThis document presents an early formulation of the structural principle of identity as preserved coherence under change. A more systematic and formally developed version of the framework is presented in Bellori (2026), The Principle of Preserved Coherence Under Change (Zenodo DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18874003). The present paper remains available as a preliminary articulation of the model and its initial formal definitions. Project page: https://www.matteobellori.com/research/the-principle-of-identity-as-preserved-coherence-under-change