The Biological Event Horizon: A Terrain–Timing Theory of Reversibility

Abstract

Core Systems Focus: Characterizes system execution thresholds, hysteresis, and the transition from recoverable perturbation to state-maintained dysfunction. Synopsis: This paper operationalizes the Biological Event Horizon as the transition at which removing an initiating perturbation is no longer sufficient by itself to restore the prior coherent state. It develops terrain carryover, path dependence, reciprocal reinforcement, hysteresis, and state-dependent recovery, and proposes dynamic early-warning measures for approaching transitions.