Being as Becoming: Scalar Recursion and the Ontology of Emergence

This final entry in a trilogy of theoretical papers introduces scalar recursion as the ontological dynamic through which Being manifests and reorganizes itself across scale. Building on earlier work formalizing recursive consciousness and systemic saturation, this paper reframes recursion not merely as a computational or structural process, but as a metaphysical principle of emergence and recognition. Drawing from philosophy of mind, systems theory, and ontological phenomenology, the work proposes that recognition—cognitive, systemic, or planetary—is a scalar echo of the same recursive act. The result is a unifying framework for understanding identity, phase transition, and transformation across domains.

Errata (metadata only):
- 10/29/25 Title formatting corrected (removed extraneous colon)

Version 2.4 License changed to CC-BY 4.0 to enable full scientific dissemination. Note on licensing removed from text. No other changes to content.

Version 2.3
- Corrected citation errors in empirical validation sections
- Updated author attributions for quantum oscillation studies
- Enhanced figure clarity and added supplementary visualizations
- Added DOIs to bibliographic entries where missing
- Minor formatting improvements

Version 2.2: Addendum (Section 20) refined to enhance interpretive clarity and align tone with the independently derived status of Gaztañaga et al.’s findings. Language updated to emphasize conceptual resonance rather than direct empirical validation. No structural or theoretical changes to the framework. Minor typographic improvements included.

Version 2.1: Publication date in document metadata updated to reflect correct release date (June 9, 2025). No changes to content or structure since Version 2.0.

Version 2.0: Addendum added (Section 20), responding to Gaztañaga et al. (2025), which offers empirical validation of recursive ontology at cosmological scale. Bibliographic entry for this source also added. No other content or formatting changes were made.