challenge-assumption

Purpose

Construct a strong countercase or alternative to an assumption and assess the consequence if it fails.

Input contract

required: [assumption, claim_or_decision, supporting_evidence]
optional: [alternative_worlds, dependency_graph, challenge_mode]
constraints: [separate assumption, countercase, evidence, and impact]

Procedure

1. State the assumption's role and dependencies in the target claim.
2. Build the strongest evidence-backed countercase and at least one alternative assumption.
3. Propagate consequences through dependent claims and identify discriminating observations.
4. Rate threat severity and confidence using the caller's scale.

Output contract

produces: [countercase, alternative_assumptions, consequence_analysis, discriminating_tests]
delta_fields: [findings, evidence_updates, uncertainties, recommended_jumps]

Quality gates

• Countercase attacks the assumption's strongest support, not a weak proxy.
• At least one alternative assumption and one impact path are explicit.
• Confidence distinguishes empirical threat from theoretical possibility.

Parameterization

Caller supplies assumption schema, evidence standard, challenge mode, consequence model, severity/confidence scales, and test budget.

Failure and counterexamples

Reject a challenge that merely negates the assumption without mechanism or evidence.

Provenance map

• concept: convergence/assumption-challenge
• resolved: benchmark-challenge
• resolved: counter-assumption-generation