The 4QX model is not a static quadrant-based framework but an emergent process of self-referential diagonal feedback loops. The quadrants are artifacts of a deeper dual self-referential dialectic that governs holonic organization. This new perspective clarifies that ontology and process are not separate layers—instead, they are two aspects of the same underlying diagonal dynamics.
The Core Realization: 4QX as Diagonal Self-Reference
Traditionally, 4Q models separate ontology (structure) from activity (process), leading to the idea that class formation (L2) is distinct from diagonal feedback loops. However, this perspective is flawed because:
- All bottom-up (BU) formation is inner-to-outer.
- All top-down (TD) action is outer-to-inner.
- Both BU and TD always occur diagonally.
- Thus, L2 (class tree) is actually the same thing as the dynamic process of diagonal feedback.
Instead of treating them as separate steps, we now recognize that all structure emerges from diagonal loops stabilizing over time.
Additionally, L2 focus occurs within the context of both the instance and the class structures, yet maintains the same feedback-loop-between-layers since it is fundamentally just the inner perspective of the L1 perception-creation loop. This splitting of a feedback loop into another orthogonal dichotomy necessarily takes the geometric form of a 2×2 matrix with diagonal loops, reinforcing the holonic structure.
The Two Fundamental Diagonal Loops
The entire system is governed by two isomorphic diagonal loops:
- The Activity Diagonal (TL ↔ BR) – Meaning ↔ Execution
- The Organizational Diagonal (BL ↔ TR) – Local Behavior ↔ Formal Structure
These two diagonals are structurally identical and operate through the same feedback mechanism, only connecting different aspects of the system.
The Activity Diagonal (TL ↔ BR): Meaning and Execution
- TL (Inter-subjective meaning): Collective cognition, shared understanding.
- BR (Execution in the moment): Individual action based on shared meaning.
- Loop Dynamics:
- Execution refines shared meaning.
- Meaning informs execution.
- This loop ensures ontology and process co-create each other dynamically.
The Organizational Diagonal (BL ↔ TR): Local Behavior and Formalization
- BL (Local behavior): Individual contributions, emergent bottom-up patterns.
- TR (Formal structure): Coordinated top-down systems and established norms.
- Loop Dynamics:
- Local behaviors refine formal structures.
- Formal structures influence local behavior.
- This loop ensures that organization is not separate from behavior—it emerges from it dynamically.
Idempotency of BU and the Individual Nature of Collective L1
One of the most crucial aspects of this model is that bottom-up (BU) contributions are idempotent—meaning they can be applied repeatedly without altering the outcome beyond the necessary refinement. This means that what we call “collective” L1 is actually an individual process. The agreement of the individual to operate in accord with and within the context of an agreed-upon local way of co-creating a collective is what stabilizes the emergent structure. Thus:
- The “collective” is not an external imposition but an ongoing self-acceptance by individuals.
- The stabilization of meaning (TL) and structure (TR) is the result of individuals aligning their actions within an idempotent process.
- Holonic intelligence does not enforce conformity but enables coherent co-creation through local self-consistency.
Ontology and Process as Two Views of the Same System
Since all BU and TD operations occur diagonally, there is no actual separation between class formation and activity:
- Ontology is just the stable memory of diagonal loops over time.
- Process is the active execution of these loops in real-time.
- The class tree (L2) is not separate from process—it is simply the crystallized result of repeated feedback cycles.
- L0 maps directly into L1+ without an artificial “class formation” step.
Implications for Holarchic Intelligence and AI
This realization has profound implications for self-organizing systems, both natural and artificial:
- AI should not treat quadrants as fixed entities. Instead, it should operate within a dynamic diagonal feedback model.
- Knowledge is not stored statically—it is dynamically reinforced through iterative loops.
- Ontology is emergent and constantly restructured through ongoing action.
- Decision-making is fundamentally holonic, not hierarchical.
Conclusion
The 4QX framework, viewed in this light, is not a quadrant model at all—it is a self-referential holonic process where all structure and behavior emerge from diagonal synchronization. The quadrants are merely an analytical abstraction of the deeper dual-loop self-organizing system. Understanding this perspective allows us to build truly holarchic AI and intelligence systems that operate in full alignment with emergent reality.