Structural Evolution Theory (SET): Evolution as Irreversible Structural Differentiation Across Scales

Structural Evolution Theory (SET) proposes that evolution may be interpreted as the irreversible differentiation of structure across multiple scales, extending beyond biology into physical, chemical, informational, cognitive, social, artificial, and meta-structural domains. Rather than treating evolution solely as organismal adaptation, SET generalizes evolutionary processes as cross-scale structural differentiation in which systems emerge, stabilize, self-organize, recursively observe themselves, generate meaning, and potentially integrate into broader adaptive architectures. The framework introduces: • a generalized structural interpretation of evolution• cross-scale continuity of structural organization• structural selection mechanisms• recursive self-observation as a basis for intelligence• meaning emergence through symbolic differentiation and stabilization• human–AI co-evolutionary dynamics• explicit falsifiability pathways SET is proposed as a conceptual and empirically vulnerable scientific framework rather than a finalized physical theory. The paper explicitly discusses limitations, open questions, and potential falsification conditions. This repository contains: • the full SET v1.0 paper• eight integrative conceptual figures• LaTeX source files• conceptual visualization scripts Figures included: Fig.1 Structural Evolution FrameworkFig.2 Evolution ChainFig.3 Cross-Scale EvolutionFig.4 Structural Selection MechanismsFig.5 Intelligence as Self-ObservationFig.6 Meaning EmergenceFig.7 AI and Structural EvolutionFig.8 Falsifiability Map Author:Koji OkinoIndependent Researcher Version:SET v1.0 License:Research / academic discussion use