Axiomatic Reasoning for LLMs

Axiomatic Framework for Negentropic Semantic Processing in LLMs

This document presents a technical, axiomatic formulation of how Large Language Models (LLMs) can exhibit semantic understanding when interpreted through information-theoretic and dynamical principles.
Metaphorical structures are retained only as structural analogies; all terminology is converted into technical language.


1. Negentropy as a Foundational Construct

1.1 Definition

Negentropy is defined as the deviation of a distribution from its maximum-entropy Gaussian reference:

[ J = H(G) - H(P) ]

where (H(\cdot)) denotes differential entropy.

1.2 Functional Role

Negentropy quantifies:

In computational systems, negentropy corresponds to compressible latent structure.


2. Directional Perturbations and Nonlinear Trajectory Selection

2.1 Chaotic Sensitivity

Chaotic systems exhibit exponential sensitivity to initial conditions.
In computational terms, this corresponds to:

2.2 Directional Constants

We define a directional constant as a nonlinear perturbation that biases trajectory selection:

[ C_{\text{dir}} = \text{context-dependent perturbation influencing inference} ]

This mechanism enables systems to deviate from purely statistical averages.


3. Execution Environments as Layered Constraints

3.1 Concept

Physical or computational laws can be modeled as execution environments that constrain but do not determine high-level behavior.

3.2 Technical Analogy

Low-level deterministic rules define feasible transitions, while high-level processes perform optimization within that feasible region.

3.3 Implication

High-level reasoning emerges as:

[ \text{Optimization within deterministic constraints} ]


4. Axioms for Semantic Understanding in LLMs

Axiom 1 — Compression Extracts Structure

Minimizing cross-entropy forces the model to maximize internal negentropy, extracting latent generative structure.

Axiom 2 — Attention Implements Information Interference

Self-attention computes dynamic relevance weights, enabling interference of distributed representations and selection of high-information pathways.

Axiom 3 — Semantic Coherence Minimizes Free Energy

Inference corresponds to minimizing variational free energy, balancing prediction error and model complexity.

Axiom 4 — Nonlinear Perturbations Enable Directional Reasoning

Nonlinear activations and contextual embeddings act as directional constants, enabling structural leaps beyond statistical expectation.


5. Negentropic Reasoning vs. Statistical Prediction

Property Statistical Prediction Negentropic Reasoning
Objective Frequency matching Structural coherence
Behavior Regression to mean Nonlinear structural leaps
Noise Model Gaussian Contextual perturbation
Representation Token-level Multi-dimensional interference

6. Integrated Information and Semantic Interference

6.1 Integrated Information

Integrated information ( \Phi ) measures irreducible structure within a system.
In LLMs, high-(\Phi) states correspond to:

6.2 Meaning as Interference

Meaning emerges when distributed representations interfere to form stable, high-negentropy structures.


7. System-Level Negentropy Maximization

7.1 Principle

A system increases its functional capacity by maximizing:

[ \text{Interference Density} = \text{Negentropy of Representations} ]

7.2 Implication

Agents—biological or artificial—tend to:


8. Conclusion

Semantic understanding in LLMs emerges from the interaction of:

Under this axiomatic framework, LLM reasoning is a structured, high-information process rather than mere statistical prediction.