Informational Legacy Theory (ILT): A Conceptual Foundation

Informational Legacy Theory (ILT) proposes a secular, reductionist account of continuity grounded not in identity, memory, or cultural replication, but in usefulness. ILT defines usefulness as the degree to which an informational pattern increases another person’s cognitive effectiveness, distinguishing between active legacy (patterns already taken up) and latent legacy (patterns with demonstrable‑in‑principle utility). The theory argues that human reasoning patterns—heuristics, explanatory models, decision structures—can be intentionally externalised and preserved in ways that remain cognitively beneficial beyond the lifespan of the individual. ILT’s mechanism aligns with established accounts of cognitive and cultural scaffolding, framing human minds as pattern‑uptake systems capable of inheriting external structures. The theory emphasises functional continuity rather than replication, and directly addresses ethical risks associated with epistemic autonomy and algorithmic mediation. ILT is presented as a conceptual foundation for future work in cognitive preservation, epistemic engineering, and secular approaches to meaning and legacy.