Model Energy Efficiency Ratio (MEER) and the Universal Equation: A Thermodynamic Foundation

Traditional epistemology and modern cognitive science (e. g. , the Free Energy Principle) implicitly assume that cognitive computation has zero physical cost, leading to the illusion that absolute truth can be approached without limit. Based on the Energy-Efficiency Theory (EET) and strictly grounded in EET Core Rules v4. 2, this paper reduces cognitive representation to a physical process subject to strict thermodynamic constraints. We define the model maintenance power Ė₌₀₈₍ and the responsive power Ėₑ₄ₒ₏, and derive the supreme boundary condition for all cognitive activities—the Universal Equation: \ (k₈₍₅₎ ₄₍ₕ) D₊₋ (₏\|ₐ) C (Q). equation proves mathematically that the predictive accuracy of a system is strictly limited by its available energy-efficiency ratio, the environment's characteristic time scale ₄₍ₕ, and the fundamental Landauer cost k₈₍₅₎. Pursuing Absolute Truth would drive maintenance energy to infinity and cause thermodynamic collapse. We then define the Model Energy Efficiency Ratio (MEER) in pure information-theoretic terms: (M) = H (P) - D₊₋ (₏\|ₐ) C (Q). measures the amount of mutual information (order) extracted per unit maintenance power. Proper Pseudo-Truth is redefined as the model that maximizes MEER under the current. Occam's razor is shown to be a direct corollary of MEER maximization. We further demonstrate that the Universal Equation acts as a mother model that reduces to Newtonian mechanics in the limit 0, v/c 0, S/, and to relativity when = 1 and v/c is non-zero. MEER thus provides a quantitative criterion for cross-scale model selection. Finally, we analyze asymptotic regimes (heat death of Absolute Truth, zero-energy singularity of pure mathematics, the infimum of theory degeneration) and specify the interface with the Response Pool equation in Cognitive Phase Transitions. Constitutional guardrails (Prohibited Moves 5, 6, 8) are explicitly enforced to prevent category errors in applying the framework.