Consent has mathematical depth
it's not enough that people have a basic addition and subtraction understanding of consent, it's not as binary as "yes" means "yes" and "no" means "no." We need to go further as autists and understand consent as a mathematical proof:
For an interaction
I between two individuals
A and
B, true consent
C exists if and only if it satisfies the conditions of safety, autonomy, and mutual affirmation.
Definitions:
- Consent (C): A state where an individual willingly agrees to an interaction without coercion, pressure, or impairment.
- Safety (S): A condition where the individual feels physically, emotionally, socially, and legally secure.
- Autonomy (A): The ability to make decisions free from manipulation, obligation, or external control.
- Mutual Affirmation (M): A reciprocal, enthusiastic, and clearly communicated agreement.
Axioms:
- Necessity of Safety:
S⇒CS
If safety is not present, then consent cannot exist.
- Necessity of Autonomy:
A⇒CA
If autonomy is compromised, then consent is invalid.
- Necessity of Mutual Affirmation:
M⇒CM
If both parties do not clearly express their agreement, consent does not hold.
- The Ongoing Nature of Consent:
C(t)⇒C(t+Δt)
Consent is not static; it must persist throughout the interaction and remain revocable at any time.
Proof:
To establish that true consent
C exists, we must prove that the necessary conditions
S,
A, and
M are all satisfied.
- Assume that consent C is valid.
- By the axioms, consent implies the presence of S, A, and M.C⇒(S∧A∧M)
- Conversely, if S, A, and M hold, then consent is present.(S∧A∧M)⇒C
- Therefore, consent exists if and only if all three conditions are satisfied:C ⟺ (S∧A∧M)
Since consent is an ongoing function of time, it must be continuously evaluated. If at any point, one of the conditions
S,
A, or
M ceases to hold, then consent is revoked:
¬S∨¬A∨¬M⇒¬C
Thus, any violation of safety, autonomy, or mutual affirmation invalidates consent.
Conclusion:
Consent is a logical construct that relies on multiple interdependent conditions. It is not a singular event but an ongoing state requiring continuous affirmation. The failure of any one component—safety, autonomy, or mutual affirmation—renders consent null.
Just as a mathematical proof must be both
necessary and
sufficient, so too must consent meet all its conditions without compromise. Use the four axioms to your hearts content. for I have mathematically proven it's over.