Inertia

Symbol: I

Definition: Resistance to change. Once a system is moving in a direction, it takes enormous force to redirect it.

Why Systems Keep Drifting

A society drifting away from its principles will keep drifting even after people notice:

  • Institutions have momentum
  • Habits are hard to break
  • Vested interests resist correction
  • Complexity obscures the problem

The Correction Problem

When drift rate exceeds correction capacity, phase transition becomes inevitable.

D > I → Collapse approaches

  • Drift - what inertia fails to stop
  • Coherence - what inertia should maintain
  • Grace - what overcomes inertia