Filtering Power Theory: An Operational Framework for Biological Continuation

This work introduces Filtering Power Theory (FPT), an operational framework for understanding differential persistence, dominance, and collapse among living systems. Building on the foundational definition of life introduced in Filtering Using Chemistry for Self-Continuation (FUCSC), FPT formalizes how effectively a living system filters inputs in service of its own continuation. Filtering Power is decomposed into five measurable dimensions: capacity, fidelity, range, speed, and energetic cost, expressed as: FP = (C × F × R × S) / E The framework predicts competitive outcomes across biological scales and contexts, including microbial evolution, host–pathogen dynamics, cancer progression, ecological invasions, and mass extinctions. Unlike retrospective fitness concepts, Filtering Power is defined in terms of real-time regulatory structure and is therefore prospectively testable. The paper establishes clear falsification criteria, integrates thermodynamic and regulatory constraints, and positions Filtering Power as a mechanistic substrate underlying natural selection rather than a replacement for it. This preprint is shared to establish a stable, citable record of the theory while the work is prepared for journal submission.