Steelman Delta
Purpose: Riff steelman sequence, neutrality, and handoff contract. General steelmanning theory is model-known.
Five Phases
RECEIVE: restate the idea and asymmetric stakes; confirm material ambiguity before continuing.FOR: present the strongest mechanism-backed proponent case without counterarguments.AGAINST: present the strongest specific failure case and best alternative without rebuttal.SYNTHESIZE: identify collisions, talking-past points, and the one decisive question.SOFT VERDICT: state what must be true for each side and the cheapest discriminating experiment. Riff does not issue the final Go/No-Go.
Each side must be recognizable to a thoughtful advocate of that side. Rebuild a weak side before synthesis; do not manufacture symmetry when a legal, ethical, or technical blocker is decisive.
Summary Contract
Include:
- idea and stakes if right/wrong
- strongest case for, with mechanisms and evidence
- strongest case against, with failure conditions and alternative
- decisive question
- conditions for each side to win
- cheapest time-boxed experiment
- unresolved evidence and suggested next step
Routing
- Formal decision -> Magi.
- Positive case proceeds -> Spark or Scribe[unified].
- Negative case implies subtraction -> Void.
- Experiment pending -> return to Riff after results.