Interpretation

The process by which signals are evaluated under declared reference conditions

1. Canonical Definition

Interpretation is the event-internal, system-level process by which signals are evaluated against declared reference conditions and mapped to candidate meanings within an active interpretive jurisdiction. Interpretation regulates candidate variability prior to binding by evaluating candidate meanings within the jurisdiction-admissible set under operative constraints. Interpretation does not itself impose obligation, route action, conclude events, or classify authority. Action-governing force arises only at binding.

2. Phase and Preconditions

• Operates: event-internal

• Requires: admissible systemhood; declared reference conditions treated as in force; interpretive jurisdiction activation

• Does not require: binding; Action-Governing Meaning (AGM); response routing; Event Closure State resolution; closure; crystallization; persistence across time; legitimacy

3. Scope and Exclusions

Interpretation is not:

• subjective opinion, belief, or personal understanding

• identical to binding or Action-Governing Meaning (AGM)

• a binding act or an action-governing state

• a post-event classification, regime, or temporal persistence state

• reducible to linguistic decoding or perception alone

• equivalent to Constraint-Governed State Resolution (CGSR) in isolation

4. Interpretation vs. CGSR

CGSR is the universal, pre-interpretive process by which admissible systems transition state under operative constraints. Interpretation is a governance-layer process that evaluates signals under declared reference conditions to determine what could count for action within an event. CGSR explains how systems change state. Interpretation explains how some systems determine action relevance. Interpretation presupposes CGSR but does not replace or suspend it.

5. Structural Role

Interpretation becomes operative when a reference condition becomes decision-relevant within an admissible system boundary and interpretive jurisdiction activates. Jurisdiction fixes which interpretations are eligible to bind, under what authority binding is possible, and which system is responsible for action. Within the active jurisdiction, interpretation generates and evaluates multiple candidate meanings under constraint and supplies jurisdiction-admissible candidates to binding. Interpretation may preserve candidate variability under Interpretive Dynamics prior to binding, but obligation does not appear until binding occurs. Interpretation reactivates when Action Determinacy Loss (ADL) is reached and a new interpretive event begins relative to the reference conditions treated as in force.

6. Authority and Legitimacy Status

• Authority relation: neutral

• Legitimacy relation: not applicable

Interpretation does not authorize action or determine legitimacy. Authority and legitimacy become relevant at binding through regime classification.

7. Common Category Errors

• Treating interpretation as synonymous with meaning or binding

• Assuming interpretation governs action without binding

• Collapsing interpretation into belief, intent, affect, or preference

• Treating interpretation as post-event classification activity

• Treating CGSR as sufficient for interpretation

8. Canonical Cross-References

System • Meaning System • Meaning • Constraint-Governed State Resolution (CGSR) • Interpretive Jurisdiction • Interpretive Dynamics • Constraint Dominance • Binding • Action-Governing Meaning (AGM) • Meaning Regimes (PCMR / DMR) • Event Closure State • Crystallization • Drift • Action Determinacy Loss (ADL)

9. Plain Statement

Interpretation is the process of evaluating signals under declared conditions to determine what they could count as before any meaning becomes governing.