What does this research mean for the field?

The concept of belonging extends beyond subjective human experience to serve as a general systems principle characterizing relational embeddedness across physical, biological, and social organizations. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.METHODOLOGICAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.ESTABLISHES_NEW_DIRECTION.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To propose the Principle of Belonging as a generalized, non-subjective systems hypothesis explaining how entities are defined by their functional relationships and structural positions within larger organized systems.

August 19, 2026Open Access

The Principle of Belonging as a General Systems Principle From Non-Organic Matter to Biological and Social Organization

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Authors

AMAngelito Malicse

Discussion

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Implication

Theoretical analysis introduces a generalized Principle of Belonging across physical, biological, and social systems, indicating that relational embeddedness organizes complex matter.

Key Points

To propose the Principle of Belonging as a generalized, non-subjective systems hypothesis explaining how entities are defined by their functional relationships and structural positions within larger organized systems.
Categorized systemic belonging into four distinct modalities: structural, functional, dynamic, and experiential.
Formulated a candidate mathematical Belonging Index and evaluated it using two illustrative applications: a water molecule and a community member.
Derived five testable theoretical predictions linking relational embeddedness to general systems theory, self-organization, and biological organization.
Characterized non-subjective belonging across non-organic hierarchies (such as atoms within crystal lattices) and biological structures (such as cells in tissues) independently of consciousness.
Identified experiential belonging as the only category requiring subjective awareness, while structural, functional, and dynamic belonging operate across all material and biological levels.

Cite This Study

Angelito Malicse (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a85642503308d306e2d7b64 https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21971379

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Implication

Theoretical analysis introduces a generalized Principle of Belonging across physical, biological, and social systems, indicating that relational embeddedness organizes complex matter.

The Principle of Belonging as a General Systems Principle From Non-Organic Matter to Biological and Social Organization

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

The Principle of Belonging as a General Systems Principle From Non-Organic Matter to Biological and Social Organization

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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Also Consider