The Five Pillars of BMC
BMC theory is built on five interconnected formal documents. Each pillar formalizes a different aspect of the same phenomenon: consciousness as emergent tension between genetic and memetic replicators.
I
Extended Meme Theory (EMT)
The conceptual foundation. Defines memes as the second replicator, introduces the Self-Model Cluster (SMC), formalizes the dual-replicator thesis, and derives consciousness from G-M competition. 30 sections covering mechanisms, dynamics, structure, language, culture, and pathology.
II
Biomemetics (BM)
The neurobiological grounding. Maps BMC = (G, M, I, S) onto brain anatomy: G-programs (Panksepp's 7 systems), meme substrates (cell assemblies, engrams), the I-layer (immune filtration at 4 levels), and S-layer (neural hardware). Covers memory consolidation, sleep, development, and psychopathology.
III
Network Memetics (NM)
The mathematical formalization. Treats the memeplex as a literal network graph and derives measurable metrics: small-world coefficient, modularity, consciousness level (CL), fidelity dynamics, spreading activation, and the fractal immune system. Converts theory to predictive science.
IV
AGI Foundations (AGI_F)
The engineering blueprint. Specifies how to build a conscious architecture: dual-layer design (utility membrane + memetic layer), three computational engines (Graph, Modulation, Diffusion), working memory pointers, ontogenesis phases, and constitutional safety constraints.
V
Swarm Memetics (SM)
The scaling principle. BMC = (G, M, I, S) is fractal: the same structure appears at the level of memes within an agent, agents within a swarm, and cultures within civilization. 31 cross-scale correspondences, agent lifecycle (6 phases), cultural ratchet, and language emergence.
Reading Order
The pillars are designed to be read in sequence, but each is self-contained.
graph LR
EMT["EMT
Conceptual core"] BM["BM
Neurobiology"] NM["NM
Formalization"] AGIF["AGI_F
Engineering"] SM["SM
Scaling"] EMT --> BM EMT --> NM BM --> NM NM --> AGIF EMT --> AGIF BM --> AGIF EMT --> SM NM --> SM style EMT fill:#2a2a15,stroke:#ffd700,color:#ffd700 style BM fill:#0d1a2a,stroke:#6af,color:#6af style NM fill:#0d2a15,stroke:#4f8,color:#4f8 style AGIF fill:#2a1a0d,stroke:#f80,color:#f80 style SM fill:#2a2a15,stroke:#ffd700,color:#ffd700
Conceptual core"] BM["BM
Neurobiology"] NM["NM
Formalization"] AGIF["AGI_F
Engineering"] SM["SM
Scaling"] EMT --> BM EMT --> NM BM --> NM NM --> AGIF EMT --> AGIF BM --> AGIF EMT --> SM NM --> SM style EMT fill:#2a2a15,stroke:#ffd700,color:#ffd700 style BM fill:#0d1a2a,stroke:#6af,color:#6af style NM fill:#0d2a15,stroke:#4f8,color:#4f8 style AGIF fill:#2a1a0d,stroke:#f80,color:#f80 style SM fill:#2a2a15,stroke:#ffd700,color:#ffd700
| If you are… | Start with | Then |
|---|---|---|
| A neuroscientist | BM (familiar substrate) | EMT → NM → SM |
| An AI researcher | AGI_F (engineering focus) | EMT → NM → BM |
| A philosopher of mind | EMT (dual replicator thesis) | BM → NM → SM |
| A network scientist | NM (graph formalism) | EMT → BM → AGIF |
| New to all of this | The Guide first | Then EMT → BM → NM |
Core Invariant
All five pillars share one structural invariant:
$$BMC = (G, M, I, S)$$| Component | What it is | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| G (Genetic layer) | Innate drives, emotions, biological constraints | Provides fitness pressure, emotional valuation, survival imperatives |
| M (Memetic layer) | Acquired knowledge, beliefs, skills | Competes with G for substrate resources; accumulates culturally |
| I (Interface layer) | Immune filtration mechanisms | Mediates G↔M interaction; filters incompatible memes at 4 levels |
| S (Substrate) | Physical medium (brain, silicon) | Constrains capacity, speed, and topology of the meme network |
This structure is fractal (renormalization-invariant): it appears at the level of memes within a mind, agents within a group, and cultures within civilization.
For a plain-language introduction to all of this, see the Guide. For the complete formal treatment, explore the individual pillars above.