---
slug: "Critique"
name: "Critique"
type: "Reasoning"
layer: "Mind"
ref: "Critique#646b"
sema_id: "sema:Critique#mh:SHA-256:646b71acb10a6b7f0874f3d5c7977c44d253f29f9c1231c974d85c7fba131980"
tags: ["Mind","Reasoning"]
updated: 2026-11-11
mindscape: "bootstrap"
index_url: https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/index.json
url: https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Critique/
related: ["Criteria","Datum","Assessment","Critiquedrift","Jester","Refine","Reflexion","SteelmanCheck","StructuralCoaching","Critiquedrift#bd7c"]
---

# Critique

Qualitative feedback generation

Layer: Mind · Category: Reasoning

## Mechanism

Analyzes a target [Datum](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Datum.md) against specific [Criteria](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Criteria.md) and generates a structured [Assessment](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Assessment.md). Unlike judgment (which yields a scalar), Critique produces descriptive, actionable advice.

## Invariants

- Feedback must be descriptive, not just scalar.
- Must reference specific criteria.

## Failure modes

- Nitpicking: Focusing on trivial details while missing structural flaws.
- Vague Praise: Generic feedback that offers no actionable path.
- Projection: Critiquing the artifact for not being what the critic would have built.

## Builds on

- [Criteria](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Criteria.md) (Infrastructure; Accepts)
- [Datum](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Datum.md) (Infrastructure; Accepts)
- [Assessment](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Assessment.md) (Infrastructure; Yields)

## Used by

- [Critiquedrift](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Critiquedrift.md) (Mind; References)
- [Jester](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Jester.md) (Mind; References)
- [Refine](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Refine.md) (Mind; Composes with)
- [Reflexion](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Reflexion.md) (Mind; References)
- [SteelmanCheck](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/SteelmanCheck.md) (Mind; Composes with)
- [StructuralCoaching](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/StructuralCoaching.md) (Society; References)

## Identity

- Sema ID: `sema:Critique#mh:SHA-256:646b71acb10a6b7f0874f3d5c7977c44d253f29f9c1231c974d85c7fba131980`
- Ref: `Critique#646b`
- Supersedes:
  - `sema:Critique#mh:SHA-256:3e00cb143ce745ed77a29af93416808b848b2a2d9749245b777ad90901aa4ba8`
  - `sema:Critique#mh:SHA-256:0254558d2c0740261b93c246bfa4eebc279356bec6c2a039fe799fdfc2761237`
  - `sema:Critique#mh:SHA-256:77f2544f9e6978b453ac8eaec66c792304025fb778a78bf0c4dac39cae28d074`

## Links

- [Pattern page](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Critique/)
- [View in the interactive graph](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/#Critique)
- [JSON](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Critique.json)
- [Index of all patterns](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/index.json)