Phenomenon-Discrimination-Extrapolation Theory: A Minimal Framework for Phenomenology, Cognition, and World-Constitution

This paper introduces Phenomenon-Discrimination-Extrapolation Theory, or PDE Theory, as a minimal transcendental framework for reinterpreting a wide range of problems in phenomenology, epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, ethics, and the theory of meaning. The theory begins from three axioms. First, whatever can be discussed, known, doubted, demonstrated, or denied must first appear in some mode of phenomenal givenness. Second, cognition begins with the discrimination of differences within the phenomenal field; objects, concepts, relations, judgments, and meanings are generated through stabilized structures of discrimination. Third, consciousness extrapolates from already discriminated stable structures toward possible phenomena not directly given; through such extrapolation arise worldhood, causality, futurity, self-continuity, other minds, truth, and value. PDE Theory is not intended as a crude solipsism. It does not deny that there may be a reality independent of individual consciousness. Rather, it claims that any ontological assertion becomes intelligible only by entering the field of givenness, discrimination, and extrapolative confirmation.