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. Series position FST-II is the chemistry / autocatalytic stability companion (Level 1b) of the FST application series. The programmatic umbrella is the FST Hub (Concept-DOI 10.5281/zenodo.20130499). Sibling application companions: FST-I Particles, FST-III Biology, FST-IV Cosmology. Code & sources GitHub: research-line/functional-stability-theory, sub-path applications/fst-ii-chemical/. Changelog Version 1.1 (May 2026) Hub-link corrected: "FST-IV Overview" references replaced by "FST Hub" (programmatic umbrella). The Hub paper holds Concept-DOI 10.5281/zenodo.20130499 and is no-numeral; FST-IV is now the cosmological collector slot. GitHub source link added. Related Identifier: FST-DE reference relabelled to "FST-IV Cosmology / FST-DE". Version 1.0 (May 2026) Initial release as part of the FST series. Status: ~8.5/10 readiness; remaining open items per referee minor-revision verdict: MEPP-controversy framing, England-causal weakening, distinction known-kinetics vs. new game-theory insights, additional experimental tests.