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The Architecture of Coherence: Systemic Fallacy and the Persistence of Fictitious Realities in Governance
The fundamental vulnerability of complex human systems—be they philosophical, scientific, or political—resides in the potential for a structure to achieve near-perfect internal coherence while remaining fundamentally decoupled from external reality. This phenomenon, often referred to as a self-sealing system, represents a state where the internal logic of a system is so robust that it can explain away any contradictory evidence, effectively transforming the system into a well-written work of fiction that nonetheless commands the resources and lives of millions. In the realm of governance, this manifests as a "total system" where the "test for truth" shifts from empirical correspondence to logical consistency within an ideological framework. This report provides an exhaustive analysis of the mechanics, psychological underpinnings, historical manifestations, and eventual collapse of systems that prioritize coherence over correspondence.
Epistemological Foundations: The Divergence of Truth Theories
To understand how a system of government can be "coherent but wrong," one must first examine the philosophical distinction between the coherence theory of truth and the correspondence theory of truth. This distinction provides the primary diagnostic framework for evaluating systemic failures in political epistemology.
The Mechanism of Correspondence
The correspondence theory of truth, rooted in the Aristotelian tradition, posits that a proposition is true if and only if it corresponds to an objective fact in the external world. Under this framework, truth is a property of the relationship between a statement and a state of affairs in reality. Modern descendants of this view, such as the semantic theory of Alfred Tarski, emphasize that truth conditions are not other propositions but objective features of the world. This creates an essential empirical feedback loop: for a system of governance to be "true" or "effective," its claims must be continually validated by observable outcomes in the physical and social environment.
The Lure of Coherence
The coherence theory of truth, conversely, argues that a proposition is true if it coheres with a specified set of other propositions. In this view, truth is an internalist property; a statement is "true" because it is logically entailed by, or provides mutual explanatory support for, the existing body of beliefs within the system. While this theory has historically been supported by idealists and certain versions of pragmatism, it introduces the risk of "ideological closure." A system can be internally consistent—each part supporting the other—while being entirely divorced from fact.
| Feature | Correspondence Theory | Coherence Theory |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Definition | Truth is mapping to objective facts. | Truth is logical fit within a system of beliefs. |
| Truth Conditions | External states of affairs. | Internal sets of propositions. |
| Feedback Loop | Empirical verification and falsification. | Logical entailment and mutual support. |
| Cognitive Bias Risk | Excessive focus on "naive realism." | Circular reasoning and self-sealing logic. |
| Political Analogue | Evidence-based policymaking. | Ideological dogmatism and mass movements. |
The coherence theory is particularly attractive to totalizing ideologies because it operates on the side of propositions alone, removing the need to account for the "domain of facts". As a result, a system of government can operate in a state of "systemic solipsism," where truth is defined relative to an accepted theory rather than the world. This leads to what philosophers identify as a "crippled epistemology," where the system becomes immune to external correction.
The Psychological Architecture of Self-Sealing Systems
The persistence of coherent but false systems is not merely a structural failure but is deeply rooted in human cognitive architecture. The human mind is evolved to seek patterns and maintain a sense of internal consistency, often at the expense of accuracy.
Pattern Perception and Illusory Correlation
Central to the dynamics of false but coherent systems is "illusory pattern perception," a cognitive bias where individuals perceive meaningful connections in random or chaotic stimuli. This trait was historically adaptive, helping ancestors recognize threats and opportunities. However, in modern political contexts, it can lead to the creation of elaborate "lay theories" or conspiracy theories that attempt to explain complex events as the result of secret, sinister plots.

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1.	noise4peace 1	8:24

2.	noise4peace 2	18:00

3.	noise4peace 3	5:27

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released February 3, 2026

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CC BY-SA 3.0. See the Creative Commons website for details.