What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to establish a minimal structural condition necessary for the continuation of systems across various domains.

April 10, 2026Open Access

Fit, Form, and Function: A Minimal Structural Condition for Admissible Continuation

Key Points

The aim is to establish a minimal structural condition necessary for the continuation of systems across various domains.
Introduced a conceptual framework linking fit, form, and function components.
Analyzed compatibility with constraints, structural configuration, and behavior over time.
Positioned findings within the Paton System, connecting different tiers of admissibility and continuation.
Identified that failure in any single component (fit, form, or function) prohibits system continuation.
Established a domain-neutral condition for persistence applicable to diverse systems, including physical, biological, and computational.

Abstract

This paper introduces a minimal structural condition for system continuation based on three coupled components: fit, form, and function. A system persists if and only if its compatibility with constraint, structural configuration, and behaviour over time are jointly admissible. Failure in any one component prevents continuation. The formulation provides a domain-neutral condition for persistence applicable across physical, biological, computational, and cognitive systems. Positioned within the Paton System, this work links Tier 3 admissibility, Tier 5 continuation, and Tier 6 structural consistency into a unified condition for persistence.

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