MET-Convergence: A Framework for Identifying Major Evolutionary Transitions Through Information Integration Metrics

Version 2 (March 19, 2026). Major revision incorporating cross-domain evidence, pattern mining from publicly verifiable sources, and multi-perspective review feedback. Key changes: development economics evidence for substrate-independent sequencing; new Section 6.2 on eusocial contradiction; Inverse Conway Effect as Stage 5-6 mechanism; technology stack convergence, subsystem co-occurrence motifs, and Stage 5 cognitive cycle as self-verifying evidence; temporal reframing as layers not eras; digital Stage 6 candidates identified. References expanded from 49 to 63. Eight blind review rounds and two Gemini Deep Think reviews completed. This preprint combines the MET communication sequence with Living Systems Theory into a dual-axis framework, maps 25 CI projects against both axes, and proposes three empirical criteria for Stage 6 identification.