The Replicator-Optimization Mechanism: A Scale-Relative Formalism for Persistence-Conditioned Dynamics with Application to Consent-Based Metaethics

2026-07-09 · Source: cs.MA updates on arXiv.org · Field: Science & Research — Mathematics & Computational Sciences, Social Sciences & Behavioral Studies, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning · Depth: Expert, extended

Summary

The Replicator-Optimization Mechanism (ROM) is a novel formalism that unifies replicator-mutator dynamics and Price-style selection-and-transmission across diverse scientific domains. Introduced in January 2026, ROM offers a scale-relative kernel parameterization where atomic units are themselves parameters, enabling systematic instantiation in physics, biology, economics, cognition, and social organization. A key contribution is its application to political philosophy, modeling consent-based metaethics where "friction" is primitive, legitimacy acts as survival probability, and belief-transfer functions as a mutation kernel. The framework also provides a conditional bridge principle connecting descriptive dynamics to instrumental normativity, avoiding the is-ought fallacy. Computational validation with 1000 Monte Carlo simulations supports the consent-friction instantiation, showing stakes-weighted consent achieves 94.9% friction reduction.

Key takeaway

For Research Scientists analyzing complex adaptive systems, this framework offers a robust, scale-relative formalism to model persistence-conditioned dynamics. You should consider applying the Replicator-Optimization Mechanism (ROM) to your domain by explicitly defining atomic units and kernel parameters, especially when investigating how patterns persist or dissolve across different scales. The consent-friction instantiation provides a concrete example for operationalizing abstract concepts like legitimacy and friction, guiding your empirical measurement and hypothesis generation.

Key insights

ROM unifies selection-transmission dynamics across scales, applying it to consent-based metaethics via friction.

Principles

• Persistence requires active maintenance against entropy pressure.
• Atomicity is a scale-dependent modeling parameter.
• Legitimacy and friction are distinct dimensions.

Method

ROM uses a weighted replicator-mutator equation with a scale-relative kernel $(\rho_{S},w_{S},M_{S})$. It defines friction, legitimacy, and belief-transfer for political systems, generating testable predictions.

In practice

• Operationalize friction using stake-voice mismatch and information entropy.
• Model regime transitions using ownership-modulated mutation kernels.
• Reduce friction via structured preference elicitation in delegation.

Topics

• Replicator Dynamics
• Price Equation
• Scale-Relative Formalism
• Consent-Based Metaethics
• Institutional Evolution
• Complex Adaptive Systems

Best for: AI Scientist, Research Scientist, AI Ethicist

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by cs.MA updates on arXiv.org.