Empirical Measurement Protocol for Civilizational Viability: From CVI Indicators to the Comparative Viability Profile

Abstract

This article proposes an empirical measurement protocol for civilizational viability within the developing metrological framework of Vitology. Building on G27–G29, which introduced a metrology of civilizational viability, comparative interaction architectures, and a system of Civilizational Viability Indicators (CVI), G30 translates these constructs into a sequential procedure for observation, normalization, comparison, and interpretation of data. The article distinguishes between raw observable data, operational indicators, normalized indicators, viability profiles, and cross-level outcomes. For each CVI indicator, requirements are introduced concerning the unit of observation, direction of effect, temporal basis, data source, uncertainty range, and system level. The paper formulates the Civilizational Viability Measurement Protocol (CVMP), which includes the definition of the object and system boundary, establishment of a baseline state, selection of indicators, normalization, assessment of temporal dynamics, identification of Cross-Level Viability Alignment (CLVA) and Cross-Level Viability Conflict (CLVC), and construction of the Comparative Viability Profile (CVP). The article further introduces the working concepts of Viability Observation Unit (VOU), Baseline Viability State (BVS), Indicator Direction Coefficient (IDC), Normalized Viability Indicator (NVI), Measurement Confidence Interval (MCI), Temporal Viability Window (TVW), Cross-Level Transfer Cost (CLTC), Viability Comparison Robustness (VCR), and Constructive Viability Threshold (CVT). The proposed methodology does not require all civilizational processes to be reduced to a single physical unit. Universality concerns primarily the structure of the measurement question, while specific indicators may retain their domain-specific measurement units. This approach provides a pathway from qualitative discussion of civilizational viability toward comparative, transparent, and potentially reproducible empirical research. Keywords: Vitology; civilizational viability; CVI; CVP; empirical measurement; normalization; CLVA; CLVC; systemic costs; cross-level transfer; measurement uncertainty; Constructive Civilization.