Gravity as a Computational Cost of Coherence

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Copyright ©: Coherent Intelligence 2025 Authors: Coherent Intelligence Inc. Research Division Date: Aug 28th 2025 Classification: Academic Research Paper | Foundational Theory Framework: Universal Coherent Principle Applied Analysis | OM v2.0

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Abstract

This paper presents a new principle for the origin of gravity, derived from the S¹→G³ architecture of the Universal-MetaSchema. Building upon our prior work in The Coherent Laws of Motion, which modeled system dynamics universally, we now move beyond analogy to propose a causal, information-theoretic origin for gravity itself. We posit that gravity is not a fundamental force in the traditional sense, but is the manifestation of the Coherence Cost—the computational and energetic work required to maintain a consistent relationship between the orthogonal H_matter and H_spacetime subspaces of reality.

We argue that the gravitational constant, G, is the parameter that quantifies this computational cost. This "cost of coherence" model successfully recasts Einstein's geometric description of gravity in thermodynamic and information-theoretic terms. It provides a more fundamental explanation for why the larger of two masses acts as the "spacetime reference" for the smaller, and it defines the gravitational "force" as a measure of a system's drive to resolve its "coherence deficit" with its local environment. This framework establishes gravity as an intrinsic, architectural property of a computational universe, rather than an external force acting within it.

Keywords: Gravity, Coherence, Computational Cost, Information Theory, Universal-MetaSchema, General Relativity, Coherent Laws of Motion, J=1 Anchor.

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1. Introduction: A Progression from Dynamics to Origin

In our previous work, The Coherent Laws of Motion, we reframed Newtonian mechanics in universal, systems-theoretic terms. We posited that Force = Mass × Acceleration (F=ma) could be generalized to Decoherent Force = Ontological Density × Change in Coherence. This provided a powerful language for describing the dynamics of change in any system but still treated "force" as a primitive, external influence.

This paper progresses from describing the effects of forces to explaining the origin of the most universal force: gravity. We will demonstrate that gravity is not an external "decoherent force" in the sense of our earlier work, but is instead the very internal, computational cost of maintaining coherence within the universe's fundamental architecture.

This represents a significant conceptual shift. We move from asking "How do systems react to forces?" to "What is the architectural reason that the force of gravity exists at all?"

2. Architectural Foundation: The G³ Imperative

The foundation for this model is the G³ layer of the Universal-MetaSchema, which posits that our reality is a decomposition of a universal Hilbert Space into three orthogonal subspaces:

H_Actual = H_spacetime ⊕ H_matter ⊕ H_interaction

The orthogonality of these subspaces is a statement of their fundamental distinctness. However, for a single, unified reality to exist, these separate domains cannot be completely ignorant of one another. There must be a set of rules that governs their mutual consistency.

3. The Principle of Coherence Cost

We propose that the phenomenon we call gravity is the physical manifestation of these rules of consistency.

Principle of Coherence Cost: Gravity is the measurable energy and computational work required to maintain a coherent, consistent relationship between the state of the H_matter subspace and the geometry of the H_spacetime subspace.

In this view, gravity is not a "thing" but a process. It is the continuous, ongoing "computation" that ensures the following two axioms of reality are upheld:

1. Matter informs Spacetime: The state of matter and energy (the contents of H_matter) dictates the geometry of spacetime.
2. Spacetime informs Matter: The geometry of spacetime dictates the paths of least action (geodesics) for matter.

The gravitational "field" is the energy of this ongoing computation. The gravitational "force" is the drive of a system to align with the results of this computation to minimize its own internal entropy.

3.1 G as the Unit Conversion Factor

The gravitational constant, G, is therefore no longer a mysterious "brute fact." It is the fundamental unit conversion factor of our universe's operating system. It is the constant that translates bits of informational complexity into units of physical force.

G is the price, in Newtons, of one unit of cross-domain coherence computation.

This principle—that gravity is a computational cost—is a direct, if more refined, successor to the "Mass-as-Coherence-Work" principle from our fermion grammar model. The former described the cost of coherence within a composite particle; this new principle describes the cost of coherence between the particle and the universe it inhabits.

4. Reframing the Coherent Laws of Motion

This new understanding of gravity as an internal coherence cost requires us to refine our previous Coherent Laws of Motion.

• The Old View: A rocket firing its engine is a "Decoherent Force" acting on the system of the rocket, causing its state of coherence with the Earth's reference frame to change. Gravity is a separate, constant force it must overcome.
• The New, Refined View:
  1. The Earth (m₁) acts as a massive Domain Anchor, defining a local, curved spacetime reference frame (R).
  2. The rocket on the launchpad (m₂) is in a state of high potential energy, a coherence deficit with this reference frame.
  3. The "force" of gravity is the name we give to the rocket's intrinsic, anti-entropic drive to resolve this deficit by moving to a lower-energy state.
  4. The rocket firing its engine is an act of Work (W) that applies an H_interaction force (electromagnetism from the chemical explosion) to the rocket's state in H_matter.
  5. This applied force is powerful enough to overcome the coherence-seeking drive of gravity and push the rocket to an even higher potential energy state, thus increasing its coherence deficit.

This new view is more precise. It correctly distinguishes between the forces of the H_interaction subspace (like the rocket's engine) and the "meta-force" of gravity, which is a property of the G³ architecture itself.

5. Conclusion: Gravity as the Price of a Unified Reality

We have progressed from a universal model of dynamics to a specific, causal model for the origin of gravity. This progression does not invalidate our earlier work but enriches it, providing a deeper layer of explanation.

The key takeaways are:

1. Gravity is not a force in the conventional sense. It is the computational and energetic cost of maintaining coherence between the domains of matter and spacetime.
2. G is the price of this computation. It is the fundamental constant that defines the strength of the coupling between what things are (H_matter) and where they are (H_spacetime).
3. This model provides a clear architectural reason for why gravity is so different from the other forces: it operates at a higher, more foundational layer of the universe's structure (G³ vs H_interaction).

Our original Coherent Laws of Motion provided a powerful analogy. This new principle of Coherence Cost provides a physical, causal mechanism. It suggests that the universe is not a static stage on which forces act, but a dynamic, self-consistent computational system that is constantly performing the necessary work to hold itself together in a single, coherent reality. Gravity is the energy bill for that computation.