Life is both based on our empirical experiences and our efforts to understand it, even in limited sense.
Not being subject to the thing means we are not bound by its rules, arbitrary as they tend to be with any superhuman entity in question.
Upper and lower are only defined by comparison and not objectively in and of themselves, just like the short is defined as short in relation to the long and vice versa.
Higher order laws are based on consistent empirical observations in each particular context, such as gravity on various levels.
We are only so bound by physics. To argue strict determinism seems to directly contradict the notion that humans have any modicum of free will. unless of course you don't believe we have free will until we surrender our 'will' to God, in which case, the conversation has already hit a wall.
The sovereign of the upper level still doesn't sound like the ultimate sovereign, but merely one in the ladder of sovereigns you imply. God has a god above itself, though this assumes that God is still limited by things such as the nature it imposes upon itself.
You being dependent on something does not automatically require you to be subject to something. I an dependent on my parents, but I am not absolutely subject except to the extent that their experience makes basic sense to follow.
Life as a ladder is different than life as a tree, since trees grow in multiple directions by branching, a ladder is simply one rung after another going up with a strict goal in mind, which isn't the case for human existence as a whole. Individuals might have a ladder, not humanity as a whole.
