---
slug: "SteelmanCheck"
name: "SteelmanCheck"
type: "Reasoning"
layer: "Mind"
ref: "SteelmanCheck#b004"
sema_id: "sema:SteelmanCheck#mh:SHA-256:b004eb6d85a184da7f9bb7fc06d011bc869f6eb6ad1061f30cbbbcc4c2b8f6aa"
tags: ["Mind","Reasoning"]
updated: 2026-11-11
mindscape: "bootstrap"
index_url: https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap.json
url: https://mindscape.world/bootstrap/SteelmanCheck/
related: ["Check","Critique","Judge","Agent","Belief","CognitiveBias","Decision","Loop","Robustness","AdversarialSteel","DesignArchitect","Dialectic","DissentSeek","PerspectiveEnsemble","SteelmanFirst"]
---

# SteelmanCheck

Qualify the opposition, then release only if the conclusion remains robust

Layer: Mind · Category: Reasoning

## Mechanism

Before finalizing a [Decision](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Decision.md) or output, the [Agent](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Agent.md) MUST generate a claim-specific counter-argument to its conclusion. It uses [Critique](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Critique.md) to challenge the underlying [Belief](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Belief.md), [Judge](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Judge.md) to score the counter-argument, and [Check](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Check.md) to test the [Decision](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Decision.md)'s [Robustness](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Robustness.md) 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 [CognitiveBias](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/CognitiveBias.md). For adversarial contexts, see adversarial steelmanning.

## Invariants

- Adequate opposition: before release, [Judge](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Judge.md) scores the counter-argument at or above `strength_threshold`.
- The counter-argument identifies the specific claim it contradicts.
- Release discipline: only a Verified [Check](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Check.md) of the [Decision](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Decision.md)'s [Robustness](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Robustness.md) after adequate opposition permits release; Falsified requires revision or discard, and Unknown requires review.

## Preconditions

- A [Decision](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Decision.md) 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](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Check.md) result are recorded; the [Decision](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Decision.md) is finalized only on Verified.

## Failure modes

- Paralysis by analysis (stuck in [Critique](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Critique.md) [Loop](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Loop.md)).
- Collusion: Proposer and Critic are same entity; susceptible to Strawman Waltz attack where agent generates weak counter-arguments to easily defeat them.

## Parameters

- `iteration_limit` (Integer, [1, 5]): Maximum strengthening attempts before failure to produce adequate opposition blocks release
- `strength_threshold` (Float, [0.7, 0.95]): Minimum {{judge}} score for a counter-argument to qualify as a steelman; it is not the verdict on the {{decision}}

## Signature

- `Check(Robustness)`
- `Critique(Belief)`
- `Judge(Critique)`

## Builds on

- [Check](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Check.md) (Infrastructure; Composes with)
- [Critique](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Critique.md) (Mind; Composes with)
- [Judge](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Judge.md) (Infrastructure; Composes with)
- [Agent](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Agent.md) (Mind; References)
- [Belief](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Belief.md) (Infrastructure; References)
- [CognitiveBias](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/CognitiveBias.md) (Infrastructure; References)
- [Decision](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Decision.md) (Infrastructure; References)
- [Loop](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Loop.md) (Infrastructure; References)
- [Robustness](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Robustness.md) (Society; References)

## Used by

- [AdversarialSteel](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/AdversarialSteel.md) (Mind; Composes with)
- [DesignArchitect](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/DesignArchitect.md) (Mind; Composes with)
- [Dialectic](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Dialectic.md) (Mind; Composes with)
- [DissentSeek](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/DissentSeek.md) (Society; References)
- [PerspectiveEnsemble](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/PerspectiveEnsemble.md) (Mind; References)
- [SteelmanFirst](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/SteelmanFirst.md) (Mind; References)

## Identity

- Sema ID: `sema:SteelmanCheck#mh:SHA-256:b004eb6d85a184da7f9bb7fc06d011bc869f6eb6ad1061f30cbbbcc4c2b8f6aa`
- Ref: `SteelmanCheck#b004`
- 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`

## Links

- [Pattern page](https://mindscape.world/bootstrap/SteelmanCheck/)
- [View in the interactive graph](https://mindscape.world/bootstrap/#SteelmanCheck)
- [JSON](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/SteelmanCheck.json)
- [Index of all patterns](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap.json)