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Other literature type . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Other literature type . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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Constitutional Logic in the Ethereum Virtual Machine: A Technical Implementation Report on Ternary Moral Logic

Authors: Goukassian, Lev;

Constitutional Logic in the Ethereum Virtual Machine: A Technical Implementation Report on Ternary Moral Logic

Abstract

This technical report presents the reference implementation of Ternary Moral Logic (TML) within the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) ecosystem. It addresses the limitations of traditional "Code is Law" architectures by introducing a finite state machine that enforces a mandatory third state—the "Sacred Zero" or Epistemic Hold—allowing smart contracts to pause execution when pre-defined ethical conditions are unmet. The report moves beyond theoretical ethics to specify the Solidity design patterns, storage layouts, and cryptographic verification methods required to make TML enforcement non-bypassable and auditable. Key Technical Contributions: Finite State Machine (FSM): Implements a mandatory "Sacred Zero" state (State 0) that acts as an "Epistemic Hold," distinguishing between valid (1), invalid (-1), and uncertain (0) transaction states. Dual-Lane Latency Architecture: Defines a "Fast Lane" for synchronous, clear-cut transactions and a "Slow Lane" for ambiguous cases requiring governance or oracle resolution, preventing head-of-line blocking. Cryptographic Provenance: Utilizes EIP-712 typed data signing to bind off-chain AI/Oracle verdicts to on-chain execution, preventing replay attacks and ensuring distinct domain separation. Privacy Preservation: Integrates Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZK-SNARKS) to verify the execution of moral logic models without revealing sensitive input data or proprietary model weights ("Glass Box" architecture). Immutable Core Pattern: Rejects standard upgradeable proxy patterns in favor of an "Immutable Core" architecture to eliminate administrative "God Mode" and ensure constitutional constraints cannot be bypassed by key holders. Formal Verification: Demonstrates safety and liveness properties (e.g., "No Silent Pause," "Eventual Resolution") using TLA+ (Temporal Logic of Actions) to mathematically prove the system's robustness.

Keywords

Constitutional AI, Smart Contracts, EIP-712, Ethereum, Governance, TLA+, Zero-Knowledge Proofs, Ternary Moral Logic, AI Safety, Formal Verification

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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
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