Active Cognitive Pruning Controls Reportable Access under Finite Capacity: A Rate-Distortion, Network-Topological, and Maintenance-Cost Model

This preprint proposes a finite-capacity theory of reportable access based on FDS rate-distortion capacity deficit. It defines representational residue as unresolved distinction load, models active cognitive pruning as a control parameter for maintaining reportability, and derives predictions for attentional blink, anesthesia emergence, rescue-window closure, early-warning covariance, and future artificial-agent benchmarks. Paper also available at https://philarchive.org/rec/WUACPQ Official website: distinctiontheory.orgPublic portal for the start guide, papers, claim status, failure registry, prior-art boundary, and citation resources. Canonical GitHub repository:https://github.com/yiningwu-research/Distinction-Theory