---
slug: "Generalize"
name: "Generalize"
type: "Reasoning"
layer: "Mind"
ref: "Generalize#29f1"
sema_id: "sema:Generalize#mh:SHA-256:29f133fe83dfe2cd7d2b432390f59e3a64a84866b964a2ca6199f8134ba64e7e"
tags: ["Mind","Reasoning"]
updated: 2026-11-11
mindscape: "bootstrap"
index_url: https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/index.json
url: https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Generalize/
related: ["AnalogyBridge","Induction","State","Almostnot","CapacityPressure","PatternEmergence","Specialize","Almostnot#4d07"]
---

# Generalize

Inductive pattern extraction

Layer: Mind · Category: Reasoning

## Mechanism

Pattern Extraction: Given multiple instances, identify shared structure. Replace specific values with variables. [State](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/State.md) the invariant that holds across all instances. Test: does pattern predict behavior of new instances? Refine until predictive. The canonical form of [Induction](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Induction.md) in sema's reasoning taxonomy — probable conclusions from specific observations. It employs [AnalogyBridge](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/AnalogyBridge.md) to map specific instances to abstract schemata, validating the invariant across the set.

## Invariants

- The abstract rule covers every instance it was drawn from.
- Drawn from at least `min_instances` instances.
- Tested against instances not used to form it.

## Preconditions

- Set of specific instances

## Postconditions

- General principle extracted

## Failure modes

- Overfitting: the extracted pattern includes noise or coincidence from the instances it was drawn from.
- Over-generalisation: the rule covers the instances and also cases it should exclude.

## Parameters

- `min_instances` (PositiveInteger, [2, 100]): Instances required before a shared structure counts as a pattern.

## Builds on

- [AnalogyBridge](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/AnalogyBridge.md) (Mind; References)
- [Induction](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Induction.md) (Mind; References)
- [State](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/State.md) (Infrastructure; References)

## Used by

- [Almostnot](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Almostnot.md) (Mind; References)
- [CapacityPressure](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/CapacityPressure.md) (Mind; References)
- [PatternEmergence](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/PatternEmergence.md) (Mind; References)
- [Specialize](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Specialize.md) (Mind; References)

## Identity

- Sema ID: `sema:Generalize#mh:SHA-256:29f133fe83dfe2cd7d2b432390f59e3a64a84866b964a2ca6199f8134ba64e7e`
- Ref: `Generalize#29f1`
- Supersedes:
  - `sema:Generalize#mh:SHA-256:17c94171f5f8f82695fc6dfb89eac6aad8adedf46545e3d48e799056ec132941`
  - `sema:Generalize#mh:SHA-256:78cbd8c531e0daa24d78be404ae40023b9ae598b6b0642e925756b1822145ccf`
  - `sema:Generalize#mh:SHA-256:251f07a282bc1b83a737977141d164311e3334d50b555400970928758153289d`

## Links

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