Functional Stability Theory II: Chemical Stability and Autocatalytic Selection

A game-theoretic framework for prebiotic chemistry, interpreting autocatalytic networks, hypercycles, and chirality selection as Nash equilibria of thermodynamic games. Building on Dynamic Kinetic Stability (DKS) and the England inequality, we propose that the Maximum Entropy Production Principle (MEPP) serves as a stability filter---demarcating the viable manifold of replicating systems---rather than as a causal driver. Empirical motivation comes from Azoarcus ribozyme experiments, where RNA replication dynamics conform to classical payoff matrices (cooperation, dominance, Prisoner's Dilemma). Homochirality is explained as spontaneous symmetry breaking in a degenerate Nash equilibrium. Companion paper in the FST series; the programmatic overview is given in FST-IV (Concept-DOI 10.5281/zenodo.20130499). CHANGELOG Version 1.0 (May 2026) Initial release as part of the FST series. v1 stage; future versions (v1.1, ...) will address remaining items per referee minor-revision verdict: MEPP-controversy framing, England-causal weakening, distinction known-kinetics vs. new game-theory insights, additional experimental tests. Status: ~8.5/10 readiness per FST series audit.