Entitiesthrough

Entitiesthrough is a term used in speculative philosophy and information theory to describe a class of entities whose identity is determined primarily by relations, processes, and pathways rather than intrinsic properties. The concept emphasizes that existence is mediated through networks, transformations, and temporal continuities, making boundaries between entity and context fluid.

Origin and usage

The phrase is a neologism formed to highlight mediation and flow. It appears in discussions on relational ontology, process philosophy, and analyses of data representation and social-ecological systems. In these contexts, entitiesthrough challenges essentialist views of fixed substances by foregrounding relational causation and transactional persistence.

Theoretical basis

In entitiesthrough-oriented frameworks, an entity is defined by its connections, transitions, and the channels through which it persists. Boundaries are considered provisional, and persistence arises from ongoing exchanges with other entities and environments. This contrasts with views that locate identity primarily in intrinsic, unchanging properties.

Applications

In technology and data science, entitiesthrough informs models where labels or identities emerge from context and transformations rather than standalone features. In sociology and anthropology, individuals can be described as entitiesthrough their roles, networks, and institutional relationships. In physics and systems theory, fields, excitations, or processes may be analyzed as entitiesthrough through their interactions with other components.

Reception and critique

Critics argue that the concept risks vagueness and operational ambiguity. Proponents maintain that it provides a useful vocabulary for describing dynamic, relational persistence and helps address complex systems where context shapes identity. Related discussions intersect with relational ontology, network theory, and process philosophy.