Formal Model of the Teleonic-Catalytic Impulse (TCI) Based on the Theory of Autocatalytic Networks

This paper presents a formal model of the Teleonic-Catalytic Impulse (TCI) — a mechanism for the transition from the biological level of matter organization to the civilizational level. Previously, this hypothesis was described qualitatively (version 2.3). The present work translates it into the language of autocatalytic network theory (RAF), yielding a rigorous, testable criterion for the onset of civilization. The model includes five modules (graph vertices): projective-volitional, symbolic-informational, material-technological, social-organizational, and reflexive-regulatory. Each module is characterized by a normalized quantitative parameter. Catalytic relationships (graph edges) are defined between the modules, reflecting the accelerating influence of the growth of one module on the growth of another. TCI triggering occurs if and only if all five modules exceed predetermined threshold values and form an autocatalytic loop (RAF component). The thresholds are preliminary and subject to empirical calibration on archaeological data. Two falsifiable predictions are formulated based on the model. First: no society with insufficient symbolic information fixation can be considered a full-fledged civilization (testable on the example of Caral). Second: an imbalance between the growth of energy capacity and reflexive practices correlates with systemic collapses (testable on data from the Roman Empire and dynastic China). The model does not claim ultimate truth but provides an operational language for the comparative analysis of civilizations. A computational verification protocol for automated testing on historical data is described. The next stage is data collection from the Seshat database, threshold calibration, and verification of predictions. --- Keywords: TCI, autocatalytic networks, RAF, formal model, civilizational genesis, thresholds, falsifiability.