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Open-Science Preprint · May 2026 · CC BY 4.0

Entropy as Action Principle
— a Framework

A multidisciplinary framework for detecting critical boundaries and tipping points. Phase 1 completed, Phase 2 four modules done. Tested across four real cases (financial crisis 2008, sepsis, Soviet Union 1989-91, Arctic sea ice) on four scales. Eight disciplines integrated. Open Science, privately funded, no institutional affiliation.

10Documents
8Disciplines
4Case Tests
DE+ENLanguages
Main Findings

Four statements the
framework carries

Condensed to four main findings. Each supported by ≥3 independent disciplines or by ≥4 real-world tests.

01

Detectable ≠ Detected

Four real tests, three of them detectable — but only one (sepsis) systematically addressed. Scientific knowledge is necessary but not sufficient. Whoever proposes more research as an answer to non-epistemically blocked problems is mistaken.

02

Six Barrier Classes

Between signal and action operate six distinct filters: cognitive, institutional, political, economic, epistemic, media-related. Multiplicative model: one perfect barrier blocks action regardless of signal. Each class supported by ≥4 independent disciplines.

03

O*-Thesis — the Optimal Degree of Order

For every system there exists an optimal degree of order O*, beyond which the marginal energy expenditure for maintaining order exceeds the marginal benefit. The deepest form of order is the ability to recognize where one does not need any.

04

Three Types of Detectability

Type A: announced boundaries with measurable precursor signals. Type B: retrospectively detectable, prospectively limited. Type C: fundamentally non-detectable phenomena (true black swans). The separation is constitutive for the methodology.

Detectable is not detected. Detected is not accepted. Accepted is not acted upon. Each of these three gaps is its own research question — and none may be confused with the others.
Download

Paper & Modules
directly available

All artefacts under CC BY 4.0, currently as HTML for online reading. PDF, DOCX, MD and the structured data as XLSX follow with the Zenodo upload.

★ Main Paper · English

Entropy as Action Principle v1.1-EN

Complete paper Phase 1 + Phase 2. 2990 words. Full translation with all Phase-2 modules integrated.

★ Hauptpaper · German

Entropie als Handlungsprinzip v1.1

Complete paper Phase 1 + Phase 2. 2650 words. Original language.

Application Module

Biomarker Database v0.1

~45 biomarkers across 12 domains. Concrete threshold values, type classification, evidence category, sources. Scientific overview, not a clinical guideline.

Complete Bundle

Project Archive v1.1

All 10 documents, all paper formats (DE+EN), biomarker XLSX. The archive is not published yet — it follows with the Zenodo upload.

Archive not published
Citation

How to cite —
BibTeX, APA

Open-Science standard. DOI will be added after Zenodo upload.

APA Style
Schüller, T. (2026). Entropy as Action Principle — A Multidisciplinary Framework for Detecting Critical Boundaries and Tipping Points (Version 1.1) [Preprint]. Vienna: Self-published. CC-BY-4.0. ORCID: 0009-0003-9799-6747.
BibTeX
@misc{schueller2026entropy,
  author = {Schüller, Thomas},
  title = {Entropy as Action Principle — A Multidisciplinary Framework for Detecting Critical Boundaries and Tipping Points},
  year = {2026},
  version = {1.1-EN},
  orcid = {0009-0003-9799-6747},
  license = {CC-BY-4.0},
  note = {Preprint, Phase 1 + Phase 2}
}
Contact & Collaboration

Reviewer feedback
welcome

The framework is in pre-submission state. External feedback from the three main disciplines (natural sciences, social sciences, philosophy of science) sought. Cover notes with targeted questions are included in the bundle.

Independent research · Privately funded · No institutional affiliation