audit-validator-independence

Purpose

Detect validators that pass by construction because they copy the target theory's assumptions.

Input contract

mode_contracts:
  validator: &validator_audit_input
    required: [target_claim, validator, validator_artifacts]
    optional: [data_generation, metric, oracle, acceptance_rule]
    constraints: [validator_assumptions_and_target_assumptions_must_be_separately_listed]
  benchmark: *validator_audit_input
  sandbox: *validator_audit_input
  simulation: *validator_audit_input

Execution protocol

Do not perform called SOP operations inline; each loaded SOP owns its contract and thresholds.

1. You MUST load skill enumerate-validator-assumptions to enumerate embedded validator assumptions.
2. You MUST load skill build-noncircularity-matrix to cross-tabulate target and validator assumptions.
3. You MUST load skill detect-pass-by-construction to detect copied assumptions. You MUST load skill design-falsification-test to design an independent failure channel. Deviation: if no non-circular channel is feasible, return blocked validation rather than a pass.

Output contract

mode_contracts:
  validator: &validator_audit_output
    produces: [noncircularity_matrix, red_cell_actions, validator_verdict, adversarial_ground_truth_set]
    delta_fields: [findings, evidence_updates, uncertainties, decisions, open_questions]
  benchmark: *validator_audit_output
  sandbox: *validator_audit_output
  simulation: *validator_audit_output

Thresholds and quality gates

• At least one validator path must be independent of the target's defining assumptions.
• Shared or derived-from-target dependencies must be explicit in the matrix.

Failure and counterexamples

Pass-by-construction is a finding, not evidence of corroboration. Unknown dependencies remain unresolved.

Provenance map

• resolved: circular-validation-audit

Preserved source criteria ledger

source	source line	kind	source criterion
v4 architecture	node desc	textual	Build claim-validator assumption matrix and require a non-circular failure channel.

Context checkpoint / Delta notes

Append assumptions, matrix cells, circularity findings, and proposed independent test.

Mode branches

• validator: inspect validator implementation assumptions.
• benchmark: inspect benchmark construction and metric assumptions.
• sandbox: inspect environment/oracle assumptions.
• simulation: inspect simulator and initialization assumptions.