Chen, Melvin (2026) Toward an onto-dynamic structural realism. [Preprint]

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Abstract

In this paper, we defend a theory of structure that we term ontodynamic structural realism. The theory rests on four core assumptions: the Galilean assumption (A1), the Noetherian assumption (A2), the Banach-Tarski-Bueno assumption (A3), and the Prigoginean assumption (A4). The latter provides a principled Prigoginean extension to ontic structural realism by incorporating insights from non-equilibrium thermodynamics. Whereas standard versions of ontic structural realism typically rely on fundamental physics and therefore say relatively little about dissipative structures, far-from-equilibrium dynamics, and the emergence of complex or biological organization, our framework offers a unified account of these phenomena within a structural realist ontology. In particular, we introduce a generative mechanism in which structure emerges through symmetry-breaking driven by the dynamical operator (F), together with a maintenance condition that explains how such structures persist over time in non-equilibrium settings. In the richer, Prigoginean regime, this persistence is captured by a flux-dependent stabilizer subgroup (H(s, Φ)) that reflects the role of energy, matter, and information gradients in sustaining organized states. The resulting framework, onto-dynamic structural realism, yields a formally well-defined and internally coherent account of the emergence and persistence of structure across multiple scales of the universe.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Chen, Melvin melvinchen@ntu.edu.sg 0000-0003-1756-8666
Keywords:	onto-dynamic structural realism; ontic structural realism; Prigoginean; dissipative
Subjects:	General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics Specific Sciences > Complex Systems Specific Sciences > Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Depositing User:	Dr. Melvin Chen
Date Deposited:	20 Mar 2026 12:27
Last Modified:	20 Mar 2026 12:27
Item ID:	28672
Subjects:	General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics Specific Sciences > Complex Systems Specific Sciences > Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Date:	19 March 2026
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/28672

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