Time, Space, and Physical Constants as Emergent from an Information-Theoretic Substrate

We develop an information-theoretic substrate \(S=(X,~,I,T)\) as a working theory of ordered emergence: a state space \(X\), a coarse-graining equivalence \(~\), an information measure \(I\), and a transition structure \(T\) that respects preservation bounds \(I(T(x))≥ρ_T\,I(x)\). In this theory, emergent does not mean only "already present but unrecognized": it means brought forth / produced / created at the coarse or projected level—new effective ontology (a time arrow, spatial metrics, usable constants-as-bounds) that is not identical to micro \(X\). The theory's default ontology treats this creation as brought forth under intentional order: we postulate (Postulate 10.2) an ordered / intentional cause of emergence—a structured, design-like constraint instituting which maps and measures survive—not an optional equal peer of "random law." From \(S\) we expound emergent time (a monotone \(τ\) on the quotient \(X/~\)), emergent space (geometry induced by projections \(P:R^N^k\) with singular-value control of \(ρ\)), and bidirectional micro-causality (reversible substrate transitions; thermodynamic arrows only after coarse-graining). We methodically exclude random causality as a sufficient generator of the ordered substrate phenomena explained here, while allowing that ordered coarse-graining may still absorb random micro noise. Non-random structure together with \(~\), \(P\), selective \(I\), and ordered \(T\) cancels / suppresses / quenches chaotic alternatives: chaos does not produce the preserved \(ρ\)-geometry or monotone \(τ\) in this framework. Physical constants \(c\) and \(\) remain interpretive bounds—not derived predictions. Composition yields \(ρ₁₂≥ρ_1ρ_2\). Dimensional folding (\(15D→7D\), PCA \(74→19\), staged folds) is cited as operational \(ρ\)-instances: structured spikes succeed where isotropic/chaos-like regimes fail fidelity—corroboration of the exclusion chain whose residual cause is a creator (§10.6). Zenodo version field 2.0.0; manuscript 2.3.1 (theory edition). New version of doi:10.5281/zenodo.18452947; concept doi:10.5281/zenodo.18452946. Resource type corrected to Preprint.