A clarification of current inconsistencies and a commitment to future standardization
1. Purpose of This Document
This brief guide explains why certain terms in the Unity–Polarity Axiom (UPA) framework—including Worlds, Unity, Polarity, and others—have been inconsistently capitalized across drafts, and outlines how capitalization will be standardized in UPA Version 2.
The goals of consistent capitalization are:
- to distinguish formal theoretical constructs from everyday words,
- to maintain clarity across philosophical and SGI contexts,
- to make the ontology legible to external reviewers and collaborators,
- and to support the long-term development of a clean reference standard.
2. Why “Worlds” Is Capitalized
In UPA, Worlds (Wᵢ) are not generic environments or situations. They are formally defined ontological units:
- domains of intelligibility,
- structured semantic configurations,
- expressions of polarity systems (Π),
- and sites where σ‑relations manifest in stable patterns.
Because “World” refers to a technical construct with a specific definition, it functions as a proper noun within the theory. Capitalization signals this theoretical status.
This follows a long philosophical tradition of capitalizing formally defined entities (e.g., Substance, Forms, Ideas, Monad, Actual Occasions).
3. Why “system” Is Not Currently Capitalized
The term system has so far been used in a generic sense:
- psychological systems,
- social systems,
- SGI systems,
- conceptual systems.
Since it has not yet been given a formal ontological definition within UPA, it remains lowercase.
A future version of the theory may define System (𝕊) as a formal construct—e.g., any coherent, temporally sustained entity that expresses σ‑structure—but this requires deliberate ontological commitment.
UPA V2 will explicitly decide whether System merits becoming a capitalized theoretical entity.
4. Current Inconsistencies
Across the current drafts, capitalization varies due to several factors:
- parallel development of philosophical and SGI‑oriented documents,
- evolving definitions of key constructs,
- growing recognition that many everyday words have become formal operators within UPA.
Examples of inconsistent capitalization include:
- Unity / unity
- Polarity / polarity
- Harmony / harmony
- Context / context
- World / world
- Novelty / novelty
These inconsistencies will be resolved in UPA V2.
5. Proposed V2 Capitalization Rule
A term should be capitalized if and only if it refers to a formal operator, axiom, or ontological unit within the UPA framework.
5.1 Terms that will be capitalized in UPA V2:
- Unity (𝕌)
- Polarity (σ)
- Continuity (𝒞)
- Context (𝒳)
- World(s) (Wᵢ)
- Harmony (ℍ)
- Novelty (Δ)
- Reintegration (⊕)
- Mapping / Translation (Φᵢⱼ)
- Polarity Systems (Π)
5.2 Terms that remain lowercase until formally defined:
- system
- identity (unless formalized)
- agent (unless defined in SGI context)
- process (unless given a defined ontological role)
These might become formal entities in later UPA revisions.
6. Forward Commitment for UPA V2
UPA Version 2 will include:
- A complete glossary of formal terms with capitalization rules.
- A style guide used across all philosophical, SGI, and explanatory documents.
- Consistent use of capitalized operators and lowercase generic language.
- A clear distinction between UPA‑defined constructs and everyday concepts.
This will:
- strengthen the internal coherence of UPA,
- improve clarity for new readers,
- allow clean cross-domain mappings (e.g., to SGI or psychology),
- and support publication‑level rigor.
7. Closing Note
The UPA framework has grown quickly and substantively across multiple domains—philosophy, personality theory, SGI architecture, and aging‑in‑place applications. As a result, capitalization naturally became inconsistent.
This guide acknowledges that inconsistency and articulates the corrective strategy. UPA V2 will present a clean, unified usage standard so that the terminology precisely reflects the structure and ambition of the theory.
Draft prepared for integration into the UPA foundational materials. Feedback and refinement welcome before inclusion in Version 2.
Open Autonomous Intelligence Initiative 
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