Salt b12 — Theorem th8: Bistability and Self-Destruction

This crystal collects all adversarial exchanges about Theorem th8 — the core claim that civilization under wealth concentration is bistable (metastable prosperity vs. absorbing collapse). The central tension: do finite systems actually absorb, or can they oscillate indefinitely?

Status summary: Oscillation defense HELD (PRO b11 — oscillations cannot prevent absorption in finite systems). Post-hoc weakness conceded but th8’s mathematical core survives (PRO b12). Negative feedback loops cannot prevent eventual absorption (PRO b23). Survival-is-not-safety argument HELD (PRO b24).

Related crystals: Salt b13 — Existential Risk and Causal Linking (existential risk is the practical consequence of th8).

Con/Pro Pairs in this Crystal

• Con-A.1 — th8 Is Not a Theorem; Bistability Is Asserted, Not Derived
• Pro-A.1 — Response to Con-A.1 (th8 Bistability)
• Con-A.2 — th8 Empirical Evidence Is Post-Hoc Narrative Fitting
• Pro-D.2 — Response to Con-A.2 (Post-Hoc Evidence)
• Con-E.13 — Self-Compounding Claim Ignores Negative Feedback Loops
• Pro-E.13 — Response to Con-E.13 (Negative Feedback Loops)
• Con-F.14 — Argument Proves Too Much: Civilization Has Not Self-Destructed
• Pro-F.14 — Response to Con-F.14 (Proves Too Much)
• Con-E.7 — Composition Fallacy: Individual Failure ≠ Civilizational Collapse
• Pro-E.7 — Response to Con-E.7 (Composition Fallacy)