This section identifies the key terms used across disciplines and organizes them by domain, providing a clear map of how each field uses its foundational vocabulary. It also establishes a consistent framework for defining every term so their roles, meanings, and relationships in scientific reasoning are explicit and comparable.
I. Identification
1. Field Name – The formal name assigned to the analytical field or schema entry
2. Word – The specific term being analyzed
3. Part of Speech – The grammatical classification of the word (noun, verb, adjective, etc.)
II. Domain Placement
4. Science Domain – The broad scientific or scholarly domain in which the word is primarily used
5. Domain Field – The specific subfield or discipline within the science domain
6. Field Focus – The primary phenomenon, object, or problem-space the field is concerned with
7. Focus Core – The irreducible conceptual nucleus that defines what the field is fundamentally about
III. Semantic Definition
8. Definition – A precise, domain-respecting statement of the word’s meaning in context
IV. Ontological Classification
9. Ontological Type – The fundamental ontological identity of the word (carrier, state, process, structure, or system)
V. Binary Positioning Matrix
10. B1 — Micro / Macro – The scale at which the concept primarily operates, from localized elements to aggregate systems
11. B1 – Reasoning – The justification for assigning the concept to a micro or macro scale
12. B2 — Discrete / Continuous – Whether the concept is composed of distinct units or varies smoothly across a range
13. B2 – Reasoning – The justification for treating the concept as discrete or continuous
14. B3 — Equilibrium / Non-equilibrium – Whether the concept assumes stable balance or persistent change and flux
15. B3 – Reasoning – The justification for classifying the concept as equilibrium-based or non-equilibrium
16. B4 — Open / Closed – Whether the concept exchanges matter, energy, or information with its environment
17. B4 – Reasoning – The justification for classifying the concept as open or closed
18. B5 — Deterministic / Stochastic – Whether outcomes are fixed by rules or involve inherent randomness
19. B5 – Reasoning – The justification for classifying the concept as deterministic or stochastic
20. B6 — Local / Global – Whether the concept’s effects are confined to a region or extend across an entire system
21. B6 – Reasoning – The justification for classifying the concept as local or global
22. B7 — Linear / Nonlinear – Whether changes in the concept produce proportional or disproportionate effects
23. B7 – Reasoning – The justification for classifying the concept as linear or nonlinear
24. B8 — Classical / Quantum – Whether the concept is governed by classical approximations or quantum-level formalisms
25. B8 – Reasoning – The justification for classifying the concept as classical or quantum
VI. Integrative Synthesis
26. Full Ontological Chain – A single integrated statement expressing the concept’s ontological type together with all eight binary determinations
| Field Name | Ex. 1 | Ex. 2 | Ex. 3 | Ex. 6 | Ex. 9 | Ex. 10 | Ex. 11 | Ex. 14 | Ex. 15 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Word | Preference | Utility | Equilibrium | Incentive | Equilibrium | Mechanism | Output | Adjustment | Expectations | |||
| Tree | Science Domain | Social Sciences | Social Sciences | Social Sciences | Social Sciences | Social Sciences | Social Sciences | Social Sciences | Social Sciences | Social Sciences | ||
| Domain Field | Economics | Economics | Economics | Economics | Economics | Economics | Economics | Economics | Economics | |||
| Field Focus | Choice (Microeconomic Foundations) | Choice (Microeconomic Foundations) | Choice (Microeconomic Foundations) | Interaction (Markets, Strategy & Mechanisms) | Interaction (Markets, Strategy & Mechanisms) | Interaction (Markets, Strategy & Mechanisms) | Aggregation & Dynamics (Macroeconomic Systems) | Aggregation & Dynamics (Macroeconomic Systems) | Aggregation & Dynamics (Macroeconomic Systems) | |||
| Focus Core | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | |||
| Definition | An ordering over alternatives reflecting desirability. | A numerical representation of preference strength. | A stable condition where no agent gains by changing their choice. | A factor that motivates or discourages specific actions. | A stable configuration where no agent benefits from unilateral deviation. | A structured rule system that maps actions and information into outcomes. | Total productive activity generated within an economy. | The internal responses that move the system toward a new state. | Forward-looking beliefs about future economic conditions. | |||
| Part of Speech | Noun | Noun | Noun | Noun | Noun | Noun | Noun | Noun | Noun (Plural) | |||
| Science Analysis Template | 1. Domain | Categories | Ontological Type | Property-Bearer | State / Condition-of-Being | State / Condition-of-Being | Role / Functional-Position | Regime / Mode-of-Behavior | Structure / Pattern-of-Relations | State / Condition-of-Being | Process / Transformation | Representation / Model-of-Reality |
| B1 — Micro / Macro | Micro | Micro | Micro | Micro | Micro | Micro | Macro | Macro | Macro | |||
| B1 – Reasoning | Applies to one agent’s internal ranking. | Utility is defined per agent-option. | Stability is defined at the agent-choice level in micro foundations. | Incentives act on individual agents’ motivations. | Strategic equilibrium is defined among agents but at the choice level. | Mechanisms act on individual and multi-agent behavior but are modeled at agent level. | Defined only at system-wide scale. | Adjustment mechanisms are macro-level responses. | Expectations coordinate macro behavior. | |||
| B2 — Discrete / Continuous | Continuous | Continuous | Continuous | Continuous | Continuous | Discrete | Continuous | Continuous | Continuous | |||
| B2 – Reasoning | Preferences compare arbitrarily close alternatives. | Utility varies smoothly with changes. | Equilibria in micro adjust smoothly to small shocks. | Incentive strength varies smoothly with payoffs. | Stability shifts smoothly with payoffs and beliefs. | Mechanisms use discrete rule sets, allocations, or messages. | Output changes smoothly over time. | Adjustment variables shift gradually. | Expectations update continuously with information. | |||
| B3 — Equilibrium / Non-equilibrium | Equilibrium | Equilibrium | Equilibrium | Equilibrium | Equilibrium | Equilibrium | Non-equilibrium | Non-equilibrium | Non-equilibrium | |||
| B3 – Reasoning | Fixed ordering at a moment in time. | Settled valuation mapped to preferences. | Defined as a stable fixed point. | Incentives define stable best responses. | Defined entirely as a strategic fixed point. | Mechanisms define stable mappings once implemented. | Output is typically driven by forces away from stability. | Adjustment occurs until equilibrium is reached. | Expectations shift the system away from static equilibrium assumptions. | |||
| B4 — Open / Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Open | Closed | Closed | Open | Open | Open | |||
| B4 – Reasoning | No environmental exchange; purely internal ranking. | Utility computed entirely within system bounds. | Equilibrium assessed for a closed theoretical system. | Incentives depend on external payoffs and environment. | Equilibrium is defined inside the game’s closed structure. | Mechanisms operate within a sealed rule system. | Output depends on trade, flows, external demand. | Adjustment processes involve feedback from environment. | Expectations depend on external signals. | |||
| B5 — Deterministic / Stochastic | Deterministic | Deterministic | Deterministic | Deterministic | Deterministic | Deterministic | Stochastic | Deterministic | Stochastic | |||
| B5 – Reasoning | Given preferences, ranking is fixed. | Utility values have definite evaluations. | Whether a state is an equilibrium is a deterministic fact. | Incentives determine direction of behavior precisely. | Given payoffs and beliefs, equilibrium is determinate. | Mechanisms define exact mappings from inputs to outputs. | Output fluctuations include randomness. | Adjustment processes follow rule-defined dynamics once conditions are set. | Expectation formation explicitly models uncertainty. | |||
| B6 — Local / Global | Local | Local | Global | Local | Global | Global | Global | Global | Global | |||
| B6 – Reasoning | A single agent’s evaluative structure. | A per-agent mapping of options to values. | Equilibrium in micro is a joint condition spanning all agents. | Incentives apply locally to one agent’s payoff. | Equilibrium covers all players simultaneously. | Mechanism rules govern all agents within the system. | Output summarizes the whole economy. | Adjustment applies to system-wide variables. | Expectations coordinate behavior across the system. | |||
| B7 — Linear / Nonlinear | Nonlinear | Nonlinear | Nonlinear | Nonlinear | Nonlinear | Nonlinear | Nonlinear | Nonlinear | Nonlinear | |||
| B7 Reasoning | Marginal changes need not change ranking proportionally. | Utility curvature creates diminishing sensitivity. | Stability conditions often involve nonlinear feedback. | Incentive effects amplify or diminish depending on structure. | Small payoff shifts produce large changes in best responses. | Mechanism outcomes often involve nonlinear incentive effects. | Small changes often lead to disproportionate output responses. | Adjustment paths involve thresholds and nonlinear dynamics. | Expectations amplify nonlinear macro feedback. | |||
| B8 — Classical / Quantum | Classical | Classical | Classical | Classical | Classical | Classical | Classical | Classical | Classical | |||
| B8 – Reasoning | Assumes definite, non-superposed preference states. | Utility uses classical real numbers. | Equilibria defined on classical state space, not quantum. | Incentives assume classical state-defined payoffs. | Equilibrium defined in classical game theory. | Mechanisms operate on classical signals, types, and allocations. | Output uses classical continuous aggregates. | Adjustment occurs in classical macro dynamics. | Expectations assume classical beliefs, not quantum states. | |||
| Full Ontological Chain | Property-Bearer → Micro → Continuous → Equilibrium → Closed → Deterministic → Local → Nonlinear → Classical | State/Condition-of-Being → Micro → Continuous → Equilibrium → Closed → Deterministic → Local → Nonlinear → Classical | State/Condition-of-Being → Micro → Continuous → Equilibrium → Closed → Deterministic → Global → Nonlinear → Classical | Role/Functional-Position → Micro → Continuous → Equilibrium → Open → Deterministic → Local → Nonlinear → Classical | Regime/Mode-of-Behavior → Micro → Continuous → Equilibrium → Closed → Deterministic → Global → Nonlinear → Classical | Structure/Pattern-of-Relations → Micro → Discrete → Equilibrium → Closed → Deterministic → Global → Nonlinear → Classical | State/Condition-of-Being → Macro → Continuous → Non-equilibrium → Open → Stochastic → Global → Nonlinear → Classical | Process/Transformation → Macro → Continuous → Non-equilibrium → Open → Deterministic → Global → Nonlinear → Classical | Representation/Model-of-Reality → Macro → Continuous → Non-equilibrium → Open → Stochastic → Global → Nonlinear → Classical |