A Relation-First Framework for Temporal Systems

This paper develops a relational method for explaining systems whose identity unfolds through time. Standard object-first models treat objects as the basic units of analysis and explain change by adding internal features or temporal extensions. I argue that this approach systematically misrepresents temporal phenomena by assuming stability where none is primitive. This paper introduces a minimal inversion: take relations as ontologically basic and understand objects as the stable appearances generated when certain relational patterns persist within a field. This shift reframes identity, meaning, and agency as relational invariants rather than intrinsic properties, offering a unified account of stability and change without metaphysical inflation. I articulate the structure of this relation-first ontology, develop a method for identifying relational invariants, and show how the approach resolves familiar tensions in the analysis of temporal systems. The result is a simple, general framework for explaining dynamic phenomena across cognitive, semantic, and social domains.