No Causal Chain Proceeds Among Multiple Lawful Alternatives Without Selection - A Structural No-Go Result

This note states a structural no-go: no causal chain proceeds among multiple lawful alternatives without selection — the taking of one alternative within the admissible set as the continuation actually realized. Admissibility presents possibilities; it does not actualize them. The paper isolates the distinction between admissibility (the standing of a possibility as lawfully open) and selection (the taking of one possibility as the one realized), and shows that a chain proceeding through a multi-alternative point requires the latter, not merely the former. The result is presented as a compact structural no-go with a clear falsifier.

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Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-05-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20264520
Primary Topic
Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
Type
preprint
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No Causal Chain Proceeds Among Multiple Lawful Alternatives Without Selection - A Structural No-Go Result

John Christian William McKinley
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
preprint

No Causal Chain Proceeds Among Multiple Lawful Alternatives Without Selection - A Structural No-Go Result

John Christian William McKinley
preprint en

Abstract

This note states a structural no-go: no causal chain proceeds among multiple lawful alternatives without selection — the taking of one alternative within the admissible set as the continuation actually realized. Admissibility presents possibilities; it does not actualize them. The paper isolates the distinction between admissibility (the standing of a possibility as lawfully open) and selection (the taking of one possibility as the one realized), and shows that a chain proceeding through a multi-alternative point requires the latter, not merely the former. The result is presented as a compact structural no-go with a clear falsifier.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Peace, Justice and strong institutions
Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
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