3. The CAS-6V Framework: Conceptual Model and Components
3.1 Overview
The CAS-6V Framework (Complex Adaptive System with 6 Variables) introduces a novel theoretical and computational lens for advancing AI's capacity to understand emergent, nuanced, and culturally embedded meaning in natural language. Departing from purely probabilistic models, CAS-6V draws from the principles of complex systems, semantic emergence, and adaptive agent interaction to offer a structured way of modeling how meaning is co-constructed through multi-variable word interactions.
The framework defines six interdependent variables that govern how individual linguistic units (e.g., words, phrases) interact, form higher-order structures, and produce emergent semantic interpretations. These variables are:
1. Interaction Level (L)
Definition: The number of linguistic elements (tokens or conceptual units) involved in an interaction.
Values:
Level 1: Single-token interaction (isolated lexical meaning)
Level 2: Binary interaction (pairwise construction, e.g., "crocodile tears")
Level n: Multi-token, compositional interactions (e.g., "tears in the eyes of a crocodile")
Purpose:
To formalize the granularity at which semantic emergence begins to manifest. As interaction levels increase, potential for metaphor, ambiguity, and aesthetic construction also increases.
2. Interaction Pattern (P)
Definition: The structural configuration or topological arrangement of the interacting elements.
Sub-dimensions:
Order: Sequential arrangement (e.g., "tears of crocodile" "crocodile of tears")
Directionality: Causal or thematic flow (subject object, modifier core, etc.)
Topology: Tree-like vs. cyclic vs. networked constructions, including dependencies in parse trees and semantic graphs.
Purpose:
To capture the importance of syntax and structural form in shaping meaning. Certain configurations yield metaphor, irony, or idiomatic expressions, while others preserve literal interpretations.
3. Interaction Probability (Pr)
