The Consequence Principle: Signals as Irreversible Byproducts of Sustained Structure

This work introduces the Consequence Principle, a domain-neutral interpretive framework for physical, biological, and informational systems. It proposes that observable signals—such as radiation, heat, metabolic flux, or information throughput—are not expressions of purpose or action, but irreversible byproducts of sustaining structure following an initial commitment event. Within this framework, persistent emission is interpreted as unrecoverable energy expenditure required to delay entropic resolution, while the cessation of such signals marks a transition from active maintenance to archival stability rather than failure. The principle provides a unified, non-teleological lens for interpreting emissions across domains, reframing observation as thermodynamic accounting rather than intentional signaling.