The Paton System: Structural Architecture and Guide to Interpretation

This paper presents the Paton System as a unified structural framework for analysing persistence, admissibility, and collapse across domains. Rather than beginning with dynamics or optimisation, the framework introduces admissibility as the primary continuation condition. Systems persist only within compatible constraint corridors; collapse occurs when admissibility boundaries are exceeded. The paper outlines the Tier structure (Tier 0–Tier 8), the constraint-compatibility principle, recursive state evolution under admissibility conditions, and cross-domain applications spanning physics, biology, cognition, AI, economics, engineering, and institutional systems. The framework provides a domain-neutral structural lens for interpreting identity persistence and boundary failure.