Occurrent Relationalism: An Ontological Foundation for Emergent Reality

Abstract

AbstractThis paper introduces Occurrent Relationalism, a foundational transformation ontology that replaces traditional substance-based metaphysics with a scale-invariant description of reality acting as its own self-effecting, sequence-generative energetic behavior. Western metaphysics historically relies on static frame analysis, reifying dynamic physical systems into persistent, dead substances. We propose an alternate ontology, established via observer-independent axioms, that defines reality as its occurrent behaviors, liberating formal analysis from Indo-European linguistic constraints. We model all of reality as strictly conserved background field energy ($\mathcal{E}$) engaged in pure transformation ($\Delta$). We demonstrate that systemic emergence ($S_{\text{system}}$) emerges as local, structural stabilizations within upper and lower thresholds ($T$), forming objective, discoverable habits of reality regardless of external observation or the presence of an observer. Using macroscopic phase transitions, specifically the behavioral fluidity of mud, as an elegant, scale-invariant proof of concept, we show that macro-scale "nouns" are lossy sensory compressions of high-frequency energetic verbs. Finally, we recontextualize classical identities and rigid designators not as metaphysical truths, but as necessary, provisional tracking pointers optimized for human semantic economy within an endlessly transforming universe. Project Metadata & Citation Information Research Framework: The Occurrent Relationalism Project (Foundational Metaphysics Research Studio) Resource Classification: Foundation Methodology / Structural Realism Alternative Suggested Citation: Harper, B. (2026). Occurrent Relationalism: An Ontological Foundation for Emergent Reality. The Occurrent Relationalism Project, Repository Preprint via Zenodo.