Meaning

Action relevance assigned through interpretation

1. Canonical Definition

Meaning is the action relevance assigned to signals through interpretation under declared reference conditions. Meaning exists when an interpretation is sufficient to govern, constrain, or justify response selection within an interpretive event. Meaning is an outcome of interpretation, not a property of language, symbols, intentions, emotions, or beliefs.

2. Phase and Preconditions

• Operates: event-internal

• Requires: an interpretive event and declared reference conditions

• Does not require: closure, persistence across time, legitimacy, or agreement

3. Scope and Exclusions

Meaning is not:

• information content or semantic reference alone

• personal intent, belief, opinion, or affective state

• a post-event baseline or regime

• identical to action execution

• created by closure or crystallization

4. Structural Role

Meaning is produced within an interpretive event prior to closure. It becomes operational at binding, when an interpretation acquires action-governing force. Meaning constrains response selection by introducing coordination cost for alternatives, but it does not determine whether an event closes, persists, or remains authoritative across time.

5. Authority and Legitimacy Status

• Authority relation: neutral

• Legitimacy relation: not applicable

Meaning itself does not create, assign, or evaluate authority. Authorization and legitimacy are classified at binding through operative meaning regimes.

6. Temporal Status

Meaning does not persist by default. Persistence across cycles is a post-event question addressed by crystallization and regime classification. Meaning may recur only insofar as a crystallized baseline remains governing.

7. Common Category Errors

• Treating meaning as intent or belief

• Assuming meaning exists only after closure

• Confusing meaning with action execution or outcome

• Treating meaning as a variable, force, or moral claim

8. Canonical Cross-References

System • Meaning System • Interpretation • Binding • Action-Governing Meaning (AGM) • Meaning Regimes (PCMR / DMR) • Action Determinacy Loss (ADL)

9. Plain Statement

Meaning is what something counts as for action once an interpretation becomes governing.