R5.1_Measurement_Appendix

R5.1 — MEASUREMENT APPENDIX

Purpose:
To operationalize the descriptive component of R5.1 (Sin = Noise / Coherence Decrease) using observable, cross-domain proxies.

A. OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS

  • Coherence (C): Stable, low-surprise coordination that preserves function.
  • Noise (N): Any process that increases unpredictability or coordination cost.
  • Trust: Degree of reliance on shared predictive models without costly verification.
  • Transaction Cost: Resources (time, money, enforcement) required to coordinate.

B. MEASUREMENT STACK

Level 1 — Individual Coherence

  • Proxies: Goal–action divergence, impulsivity indices, choice set collapse over time.
  • Noise Signature: Behavioral volatility, shortened time horizons.

Level 2 — Relational Coherence

  • Proxies: Trust survey indices, contract length/complexity growth, litigation frequency.
  • Noise Signature: Rising verification and enforcement overhead post-betrayal.

Level 3 — Institutional Coherence

  • Proxies: Audit failure rates, corruption indices, rules per capita.
  • Noise Signature: Data unreliability, bureaucratic bloat, policy instability.

Level 4 — Civilizational Coherence

  • Proxies: Social trust indices, crime rates (trust-violating), narrative fragmentation.
  • Noise Signature: Surveillance normalization, declining consensus reality.

C. FALSIFICATION TARGETS

R5.1 fails if evidence shows:

  1. A repeatable class of behaviors traditionally labeled “sinful” (deception, betrayal, cruelty).
  2. That sustainably reduces coordination cost and increases trust.
  3. Cross-culturally and across generations.

Back to: Tier 5: Moral Dynamics