The Self-as-an-End (SAE) series now spans over a dozen sub-series across mathematics, physics, philosophy, biology, economics, and more. This guide tells you where to start, how the series connect, and which path fits your background. In Chinese: 导读。
Regardless of your background, your first paper is the same:
Methodological Overview: Hundun — Negation as First Principle (Methodology M, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18842450)
This paper introduces the 16-level DD dimensional sequence (0D through 16DD), the chisel-construct cycle, and the concept of remainder (余项). Without these, the vocabulary of every other paper on this site will be opaque. It is short enough to read in one sitting and dense enough to repay multiple readings.
After reading the Overview, you can branch directly into any series below. You do not need to read Methodology II–VII before branching — those papers deepen specific methodological questions and can be read alongside whichever applied series interests you.
These three series build on each other. Cosmology establishes the SAE cosmological framework; Four Forces derives the fundamental interactions from DD geometry; Mass Series reads physical constants and the periodic table from the same structure. Reading them out of order is possible but will require more back-referencing.
ZFCρ is the most internally self-contained series. Each paper builds directly on the last. Paper I establishes the core theorem (ρ ≠ ∅) and the formalization-remainder cycle; the series then progressively deepens the algebraic structure. Readers comfortable with formal mathematics can move quickly; others may prefer to read in parallel with the Methodology series for conceptual grounding.
The four-paper epistemology series reads naturally in order. Paper I establishes the four a priori conditions of cognition and the AGI subjectivity problem; Papers II–IV develop each condition in depth. Paper IV (Must-Be-Questioned) closes the loop back to ZFCρ's remainder theorem.
The Learning series is among the most accessible entry points after the Overview. It applies the DD-layer framework to how humans learn — from memory and prediction (11–12DD) through self-scrutiny (13DD), purpose (14DD), and recognizing the other's purpose (14DD→15DD). Recommended for educators, parents, and anyone thinking about pedagogy.
The Biology Notes are largely independent of each other and can be read in any order. Each applies the SAE framework to a specific clinical or biological question. Note III (eating disorders) is particularly accessible as an introduction to how DD-layer analysis differs from conventional medical framing.
The economics series applies SAE's Kingdom of Ends / Kingdom of Means distinction to markets, money, and institutional design. The phase-transition window (Ω ∈ [2.75, 4.01]) that appears in the physics papers recurs here as the market's DD phase structure.
Readers from philosophy can go directly from the Overview into the applied philosophy papers. The individual philosopher papers (Kant, Laozi, Confucius, Zhuangzi, Nietzsche, Jesus, etc.) are self-contained and require only the Overview as background.
The Anthropology Prequel establishes the cosmic preconditions for human existence — a good frame before diving into the civilization history papers. The history papers can also be read independently as stand-alone case studies.
Methodology III is the most practical paper on the site — a direct manual for using AI to find remainders, grounded in the sentence-form / response isomorphism theorem. Recommended for anyone working with LLMs.
| Series | What it is | Papers |
|---|---|---|
| Methodology | The SAE framework itself — DD layers, chisel-construct cycle, remainder, Via Negativa. Start here. | M + I–VII |
| Epistemology | Four a priori conditions of cognition; AGI subjectivity problem; remainder as structural necessity. | I–IV |
| ZFCρ | Formal mathematics of the remainder: ZFC set theory extended with a remainder operator ρ. Proves ρ ≠ ∅ and ρ → ρ' is necessary. | I–LX |
| Cosmological | SAE cosmological framework: true randomness × structured time; DD-layer reading of the universe's origin and constants. | ~10 |
| Four Forces | The four fundamental interactions derived from DD geometry. Prerequisite: Cosmological series. | I–IX + Prequel/Finale |
| Mass Series | Physical constants and the periodic table read from the DD resolvent structure. Prerequisite: Four Forces series. | I–V |
| Learning | How humans learn at each DD layer — from memory/prediction through purpose and recognizing the other's ends. | I–IV |
| Biology Notes | Clinical and biological applications of the SAE framework: oncology, speech loss, eating disorders. | I–III |
| Anthropology | Cosmic preconditions for human existence; why humanity is structurally unique in the solar system. | Prequel + ongoing |
| Economics | Kingdom of Means vs. Kingdom of Ends applied to markets, money, institutions, and the phase-transition window. | ~8 |
| Philosophy (Applied) | Individual philosopher papers: Kant, Laozi, Confucius, Zhuangzi, Nietzsche, Socrates, Jesus, and others. | ~15 |
| Civilization History | Ancient, Medieval, and Modern civilization through the SAE lens of base/emergence layer transitions. | ~6 |
| Lifecycle & Development | Terrible Twos, Terrible Teens, aging, nurturing — DD-layer transitions across the human lifespan. | ~8 |
| AI Architecture | LLM structure, multi-AI coordination, and the SAE framework as an evaluative lens for AI systems. | ~6 |
Most papers on this site are bilingual (English / Chinese). Use the English / 中文 tabs at the top of each paper page to switch. The Chinese versions are the original drafts for most papers; the English versions are full translations. A small number of older papers are English-only.
Guide last updated April 2026. As the series grows, this guide will be updated to reflect new papers and paths. Questions or suggestions: @hqinjarsy