Human Dignity Kernel (HDK): Proof-Carrying Constitutional Semantics for World Runtimes and World Markets

AbstractHDK (Human Dignity Kernel) is a mechanically verifiable constitutional layer for programmable worlds and world marketplaces. It enforces three non-overrideable invariants for all persons in any declared world runtime: (i) a measurable dignity floor (minimum decency), (ii) universal opportunity (“everyone may become a dragon”), and (iii) existence implies meaning (no semantic nullification). HDK is not a moral persuasion framework and does not rely on reward shaping, policy training, or cultural consensus. Instead, HDK enforces dignity as a compile-time and runtime invariant through proof-carrying artifacts (worlds, modules, refinement maps, and claims), capability-scoped action execution with non-escalation, small-step operational semantics with runtime rejection, progress/preservation theorems, compositional certification preventing certified-shell + malicious-module attacks, and a marketplace listing protocol where uncertified artifacts cannot be traded as certified. We formalize an explicit threat model for open world economies: certification laundering, proof forgery, refinement forgery, dignity-drain arbitrage, opportunity lockout, semantic nullification, governance capture, composition smuggling, and capability escalation. For each class, HDK provides enforcement via deterministic lint rejection, runtime rejection, or economic non-viability. The result is a constitutional kernel suitable for open-source deployment in world markets, guaranteeing that every declared person attains minimum dignity, retains meaning, and has structurally preserved opportunity under adversarial incentives.