{
  "handle": "SteelmanCheck",
  "mechanism": "Before finalizing a {{decision}} or output, the {{agent}} MUST generate a claim-specific counter-argument to its conclusion. It uses {{critique}} to challenge the underlying {{belief}}, {{judge}} to score the counter-argument, and {{check}} to test the {{decision}}'s {{robustness}} against any counter-argument that meets `strength_threshold`. A sub-threshold counter-argument is strengthened up to `iteration_limit`; if no adequate counter-argument is produced, release is blocked. Once an adequate counter-argument exists, a Falsified robustness result requires revision or discard, Unknown blocks release pending review, and only Verified permits finalization. It prevents confirmation {{cognitive_bias}}. For adversarial contexts, see adversarial steelmanning.",
  "gloss": "Qualify the opposition, then release only if the conclusion remains robust",
  "failure_modes": [
    "Paralysis by analysis (stuck in {{critique}} {{loop}}).",
    "Collusion: Proposer and Critic are same entity; susceptible to Strawman Waltz attack where agent generates weak counter-arguments to easily defeat them."
  ],
  "invariants": [
    "Adequate opposition: before release, {{judge}} scores the counter-argument at or above `strength_threshold`.",
    "The counter-argument identifies the specific claim it contradicts.",
    "Release discipline: only a Verified {{check}} of the {{decision}}'s {{robustness}} after adequate opposition permits release; Falsified requires revision or discard, and Unknown requires review."
  ],
  "preconditions": [
    "A {{decision}} or output exists to challenge.",
    "The conclusion exposes a specific claim or rationale that can be contradicted."
  ],
  "postconditions": [
    "Either bounded failure to produce an adequate counter-argument blocks release, or an adequate counter-argument and terminal {{check}} result are recorded; the {{decision}} is finalized only on Verified."
  ],
  "parameters": [
    {
      "name": "iteration_limit",
      "type": "Integer",
      "range": "[1, 5]",
      "description": "Maximum strengthening attempts before failure to produce adequate opposition blocks release"
    },
    {
      "name": "strength_threshold",
      "type": "Float",
      "range": "[0.7, 0.95]",
      "description": "Minimum {{judge}} score for a counter-argument to qualify as a steelman; it is not the verdict on the {{decision}}"
    }
  ],
  "_meta": {
    "tier": 2,
    "ring": 2,
    "related": [
      "AdversarialSteel"
    ],
    "supersedes": [
      "sema:SteelmanCheck#mh:SHA-256:4f4ce8aca096c50b21c598a587b4b93cb3a2952114bac7c9ff1711786085f3b7",
      "sema:SteelmanCheck#mh:SHA-256:9c861bd1b525f9671144191592f0f8d963331540385d5bb1f7317e919e6b7003",
      "sema:SteelmanCheck#mh:SHA-256:7611548d64d5fb63c0e09723c53192121c4846ab4ea85531da0b51ad712f3c75",
      "sema:SteelmanCheck#mh:SHA-256:bd611ca0ddfecaf9d70fd83ff2b51a6a3b121e95936c586cc5a4dfd3fa7167bf"
    ],
    "path": [
      "Mind",
      "Reasoning"
    ]
  },
  "sema_id": "sema:SteelmanCheck#mh:SHA-256:b004eb6d85a184da7f9bb7fc06d011bc869f6eb6ad1061f30cbbbcc4c2b8f6aa",
  "sema_ref": "SteelmanCheck#b004",
  "sema_stub": "b004",
  "signature": [
    "Check(Robustness)",
    "Critique(Belief)",
    "Judge(Critique)"
  ],
  "dependencies": {
    "composes_with": {
      "check": "sema:Check#mh:SHA-256:6890b221c38531710528cd84bbf3a957e29d9836dfc9c02669fc0a86709bcb00",
      "critique": "sema:Critique#mh:SHA-256:646b71acb10a6b7f0874f3d5c7977c44d253f29f9c1231c974d85c7fba131980",
      "judge": "sema:Judge#mh:SHA-256:704cbb71588d7a3bafa08b71c863005e31ec4400860b9cb8b094e660da9c7c6c"
    },
    "references": {
      "agent": "sema:Agent#mh:SHA-256:e127459069739fffc96a71d54ef6e8c97ca53471d5349c16aa72a092a33756cd",
      "belief": "sema:Belief#mh:SHA-256:09e1c919d9829e30422f3fffee11c1af4af54ac7894d157ff371ed50b03f69b1",
      "cognitive_bias": "sema:CognitiveBias#mh:SHA-256:c8a4abe2e0ce048be16d25f890a50f8c7095e099b5ab2de23aa059942328f387",
      "decision": "sema:Decision#mh:SHA-256:b1407127acd4a39314fc24b418310e4b95e0347e4e22f376151ab765e2dfd2c7",
      "loop": "sema:Loop#mh:SHA-256:37f953c0b21b9b0c72a639c4e1a54354faa71f07905531d271f6bbf40c341603",
      "robustness": "sema:Robustness#mh:SHA-256:5304c7824b76c6f308bb1a33ba6171d41fd061a5b104f21710bbb6c7a7c85b43"
    }
  },
  "sema_layer": "Mind",
  "sema_category": "Reasoning",
  "used_by": {
    "composes_with": {
      "AdversarialSteel": "sema:AdversarialSteel#mh:SHA-256:90b1f6225005275367227017d930134959decfd97f52d7550de19cd8784c8702",
      "DesignArchitect": "sema:DesignArchitect#mh:SHA-256:48deccf62675d6cbfb1bf2efa163b35f6141f8863563d08cb8ca52b0c80231ce",
      "Dialectic": "sema:Dialectic#mh:SHA-256:26bec9ea9924523af3aa4d24165e4131dfe2ca964a54cee6a7a12cd391bb8aec"
    },
    "references": {
      "DissentSeek": "sema:DissentSeek#mh:SHA-256:cbe1c2ffdc64d0627f0fc9115ee06d1876f6baa38b80b03e712951131feedefb",
      "PerspectiveEnsemble": "sema:PerspectiveEnsemble#mh:SHA-256:4afd1d6c7abb339c91b3bd94f791e2f57638e9a8c5431757d2c7ae1d6ce8545d",
      "SteelmanFirst": "sema:SteelmanFirst#mh:SHA-256:ef20c6668a33682967b71f3a2d5cdc0fa6a1ea1342118f7570990d74a1e6e699"
    }
  }
}