From Self-Direction to Self-Knowledge: Closing the Inference Gap in the Modality Ladder

Abstract

The modality ladder grades three results: triadic structure as theorem, a lit (self-knowing) ground as inference to best explanation, and personhood as free encounter. This paper closes the gap at the second rung by elimination rather than inference. Five independently earned steps: the Ground-Level Intent Trilemma (borrowed directedness requires regress, random directedness was already eliminated, only self-grounding survives); self-directed activity must track its target; subject–object identity at the ground removes the conditions for misrepresentation; the subject–object gap is shown to be the sole structural feature distinguishing accurate directedness from knowledge, with the candidate space closed under gap-dependence by the Zero Test; and the Distinguishability Lemma applied to Presence itself forces self-constituting Presence to be self-presenting, since Φ is a mapping with intrinsic source→terminus structure. Zombie and normativity objections are addressed directly. The epistemic/volitional freedom distinction shows relational freedom survives the proof, leaving the third rung intact.