Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/ ZENODOarrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/
ZENODO
Preprint . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: ZENODO
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/
ZENODO
Preprint . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: ZENODO
ZENODO
Preprint . 2026
License: CC BY NC
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Preprint . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Preprint . 2026
License: CC BY NC
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Preprint . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
versions View all 4 versions
addClaim

From Classical to Autological Objectivity — Toward a Structural Law of Reflexive Knowledge

Authors: Elbasan, Serkan;

From Classical to Autological Objectivity — Toward a Structural Law of Reflexive Knowledge

Abstract

This paper introduces autological objectivity, a structural reformulation of objectivity for reflexive systems—biological, cognitive, artificial, and social.Classical objectivity assumes that observation does not alter the observed system.Reflexive systems violate this assumption: their generative rule structure changes as a function of recurrence and perturbation. KOGNETIK formalizes structural self-sensitivity through the operator Ψ = ∂S/∂R where S denotes generative structure and R denotes recurrence.We show that scientific progress itself unfolds through Kognems—minimal rule mutations triggered by kognetic overload (L = 1/Ψ).Using evidence from evolutionary developmental biology and meta-learning architectures, the paper demonstrates that objectivity becomes transformation-invariance rather than state-invariance. Autological objectivity provides an epistemic foundation for systems that learn to rewrite their own rules and offers a measurable operator for next-generation reflexive AI. Intellectual Property & Licensing The KOGNETIK Research Series is released under the Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). All scientific works within the series may be cited, shared, and adapted for non-commercial research purposes with proper attribution. Commercial use—including consulting, advisory services, integration into commercial platforms, monetized training, certification, or system-level deployment—is not permitted under this license and requires a separate written agreement. Full license text:https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ For licensing, partnerships, translations, or applied development inquiries:research@kognetik.dehttps://www.kognetik.de ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8544-4847 Kognetik Series Information KOGNETIK — Minimal Operator Definition of Reflexivity (Ψ = ∂S/∂R) Reflexivity as structural rate-of-change:Ψ = ∂S/∂R measures structural drift under recurrence. Process, not state:Reflexivity specifies a transformation rule rather than a content or level. Domain-independent operator:Applicable across biological, cognitive, artificial, social, industrial, and geophysical systems. Non-ascriptive and empirically testable:Ψ enables comparative analysis of systems via observable structure and recurrence. Higher-order phenomena as specifications:Learning, adaptation, consciousness, governance, and identity are structured regimes of Ψ.

Keywords

Kognetic Load, Kognem, Consciousness, Science, Systems Theory, Transformation Invariance, Contemporary philosophy, Cybernetics/history, Philosophy of Science, Cybernetics/economics, Meta-Learning, Cybernetics/standards, Reflexive Systems, Modern philosophy, Frameshift Mutation, Mutation/physiology, Ψ-Operator, Science/ethics, Adaptive AI, Cybernetics/methods, Reflexivity, Behavioural science, Structural Sensitivity, Evolutionary Developmental Biology, Science/standards, Autological Objectivity, KOGNETIK, Science/trends, Second-Order Cybernetics, FOS: Philosophy, ethics and religion, Philosophy, Cybernetics/ethics, Cybernetics/organization & administration, Objectivity, Cybernetics/trends, Human science, Cybernetics/instrumentation, Mutation, Systems theory, Cognitive Science, Rule Mutation, Cybernetics/organization & administration, Structural Drift, Cybernetics, Science/education, Cybernetics/classification

  • BIP!
    Impact byBIP!
    selected citations
    These citations are derived from selected sources.
    This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    0
    popularity
    This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    Average
    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
Green
Related to Research communities