The Algebra of Construal: 2 Construal as Dynamic Operator

In the previous episode, we established construal as the foundational principle of relational ontology: phenomena are always mediated, and meaning emerges only through the interplay of potential, perspective, and actualisation. In this installment, we take the next step: construal is not merely a static relation—it is a dynamic operator, a generative process through which systems are actualised and meaning propagates.

From Static Product to Processual Operation

Traditional accounts often treat meaning as a fixed “output” of interaction or representation. Relational ontology, by contrast, positions construal as operative and transformative: it is the act through which potentials are realised in instances.

Formally, we can think of construal as:

$$\text{Construal: System × Perspective → Instance}$$

• System: the structured potential, the theoretical space of possibility.

• Perspective: the situational lens or cut, the context in which actualisation occurs.

• Instance: the emergent, perspectivally actualised phenomenon.

Here, construal functions as a mapping, not a mirror: it does not reflect a pre-existing world; it transforms potential into actualisation. The operator is dynamic because it acts differently depending on the system and the perspective, producing variation and novelty.

Types of Construal

Even at this stage, we can observe distinct modes of construal:

1. Selective Construal – prioritises certain features or potentials over others, shaping what emerges.

2. Compositional Construal – integrates multiple potentials into a coherent instance.

3. Transformative Construal – alters the system itself through the act of actualisation, creating new potentialities.

These types are not discrete “levels” but interacting modalities, capable of combining in complex patterns. Their interplay generates emergent phenomena that could not have been predicted from the system alone.

Implications for Meaning Propagation

When construal is treated as a dynamic operator, several consequences follow:

• Emergent novelty: Each instance is not predetermined; it arises relationally through the operator.

• Relational propagation: Construals can influence other construals, producing chains or networks of emergent meaning.

• Non-commensurable perspectives: Multiple construals can operate simultaneously, creating partially overlapping or even incompatible instances.

In other words, construal is not just a generator of meaning—it is a mechanism for the propagation of meaning across systems and perspectives, laying the groundwork for multi-perspectival epistemology.

Looking Ahead

Having positioned construal as a dynamic operator, the next instalment will explore interactions between multiple construals, the algebraic patterns they form, and the ways in which emergent meanings propagate across relational systems. This sets the stage for formalising an algebra of construal, where the operations themselves can be systematically studied and applied.

Construal, in motion, is the engine. Understanding its dynamics is the first step toward mapping the flow of possibility and meaning in relational terms.