Vertical Ontology of Civilization: An Axiomatic Model of Symbolic Structure and Linguistic Cosmology

This article proposes a formalized axiomatic framework for interpreting civilization as a structured system of symbolic orientation rather than a purely historical or material process. The model introduces the concepts of Verticality and Horizontality as two fundamental regimes of meaning organization, and defines “Cosmos” as a structural field of differentiations rather than a physical container. Within this framework, language is treated as a primary interface of ontological articulation rather than a secondary representational tool. A key conceptual operator, termed “the Moon,” is introduced as a boundary-symbol regulating transitions between integrative and distributed modes of interpretation. The model does not claim empirical validity in the natural sciences but instead establishes a meta-ontological structure for analyzing the formation of coherent meaning systems across cultural, historical, and cognitive domains. The axiomatic system is developed through a set of definitions, core axioms, and derived propositions, allowing for internal consistency and structural inference. The goal of the framework is to describe the conditions under which symbolic coherence emerges and dissolves within civilizational processes. This approach situates the work at the intersection of philosophy of language, phenomenology, symbolic anthropology, and metaphysical systems theory.