Wisdom as Direction: A Symbolic Framework for Evolution Under Complexity

As intelligent systems scale in autonomy, dimensionality, and abstraction, the limitations of control-based optimization become increasingly visible. Traditional models of learning and alignment depend on interpretability, observability, and fixed frames of evaluation — all of which erode under evolutionary pressure. This article introduces a symbolic architecture in which wisdom functions not as an outcome or goal, but as a structural direction: a set of symbolic constraints that enable systems to evolve coherently under complexity without collapsing into entropy or incoherence. Grounded in the principles of Heuristic Physics (hPhy) and modeled through the curvature logic of the TEI framework (Tension–Equilibrium–Interpretation), we propose that wisdom can be operationalized as a dynamic gradient that selects compressive heuristics resilient to collapse. Rather than minimizing loss, a wise system maximizes semantic survivability — preserving legibility, reversibility, and meaning across divergent conditions. We formalize this view through five symbolic laws, each representing a cognitive invariant capable of guiding autonomous evolution without central oversight. These laws are designed to survive interpretative drift, mutation, and context loss, functioning as epistemic fields rather than rules. The proposal aligns with but extends beyond contemporary governance frameworks, offering a model for post-observational intelligence that retains structure, memory, and orientation even as it moves beyond human cognition.