---
slug: "PreMortem"
name: "PreMortem"
type: "Strategy"
layer: "Mind"
ref: "PreMortem#e4c2"
sema_id: "sema:PreMortem#mh:SHA-256:e4c24813f33aa41fdb183e380d05707fe1fd813c46b4127602449a8988f47964"
tags: ["Mind","Strategy"]
updated: 2026-11-11
mindscape: "bootstrap"
index_url: https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/index.json
url: https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/PreMortem/
related: ["DesignArchitect","HindsightBlock"]
---

# PreMortem

Simulating failure to identify hidden risks

Layer: Mind · Category: Strategy

## Mechanism

For a contemplated course, state an unwanted outcome and reason as though it has already occurred. Ask what caused it and record course- and context-linked causal scenarios. Return those scenarios; selection, ranking, and response remain caller choices.

## Invariants

- Prospective Hindsight: During scenario generation, the selected unwanted outcome is treated as already having occurred, without asserting its probability.
- Causal Specificity: Each recorded scenario names a causal explanation linked to the course and context; generic bad luck alone is insufficient.

## Preconditions

- A contemplated course is identified.

## Postconditions

- Course-linked causal failure scenarios, or an explicit none-found result, recorded.

## Failure modes

- Performative Doomerism: Recording generic disasters disconnected from the course or context.

## Builds on

—

## Used by

- [DesignArchitect](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/DesignArchitect.md) (Mind; Composes with)
- [HindsightBlock](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/HindsightBlock.md) (Mind; References)

## Identity

- Sema ID: `sema:PreMortem#mh:SHA-256:e4c24813f33aa41fdb183e380d05707fe1fd813c46b4127602449a8988f47964`
- Ref: `PreMortem#e4c2`
- Supersedes:
  - `sema:PreMortem#mh:SHA-256:f69d7ea1811d52c879c9d45e5546796ca328f8806e322fe42bd3ae2ebfc9dea5`
  - `sema:PreMortem#mh:SHA-256:6cc4fa30402760c632af25ea100c15fa3b0191b6a3beae343b84a8162d1123e2`
  - `sema:PreMortem#mh:SHA-256:4c7fe58aa4f9a9e7a319d8eb3ca56e449a390d6b0fa574b258f9cf7a32ef138e`

## Links

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