---
slug: "Problem"
name: "Problem"
type: "Data Structures"
layer: "Infrastructure"
ref: "Problem#2580"
sema_id: "sema:Problem#mh:SHA-256:2580c43677ec78ee7ee428d200662c6096e4eab38c2c5a868154979074cc0f08"
tags: ["Infrastructure","Data Structures"]
updated: 2026-11-11
mindscape: "bootstrap"
index_url: https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/index.json
url: https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Problem/
related: ["State","Task","AnalogyBridge","Decompose","DepthGovernor","FrameSpec","HeuristicSnap","Invert","MechanisticDesignProposal","ModestClaim","OutputGuard","PerspectiveEnsemble","Reframe","RootSolver","SteelmanFirst","StepBack","UniversalSolverTree","UptakeOverTimestamp","WhyClimb"]
---

# Problem

A state gap with a cost of inaction

Layer: Infrastructure · Category: Data Structures

## Mechanism

A formal representation of a gap between Current [State](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/State.md) and Desired [State](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/State.md) where the Cost of Inaction > 0. Unlike a [Task](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Task.md) (which is a directive to act), a Problem is a descriptive claim about value loss. It serves as the input to interpretation and reframing, requiring diagnosis before a solution root can be established.

## Invariants

- Cost of inaction is non-zero: a gap that costs nothing to leave open is a difference, not a Problem.

## Failure modes

—

## Data schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "current_state",
    "desired_state",
    "cost_of_inaction"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "current_state": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Description of reality"
    },
    "desired_state": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Description of goal"
    },
    "gap_analysis": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Why the current != desired"
    },
    "severity": {
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "Low",
        "Medium",
        "High",
        "Existential"
      ]
    },
    "root_cause_hypothesis": {
      "type": "string"
    },
    "cost_of_inaction": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "What leaving the gap open costs. Non-zero is what makes the gap a Problem rather than a difference."
    }
  }
}
```

## Builds on

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

## Used by

- [AnalogyBridge](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/AnalogyBridge.md) (Mind; References)
- [Decompose](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Decompose.md) (Mind; References)
- [DepthGovernor](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/DepthGovernor.md) (Mind; References)
- [FrameSpec](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/FrameSpec.md) (Infrastructure; References)
- [HeuristicSnap](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/HeuristicSnap.md) (Mind; References)
- [Invert](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Invert.md) (Mind; References)
- [MechanisticDesignProposal](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/MechanisticDesignProposal.md) (Infrastructure; Accepts)
- [ModestClaim](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/ModestClaim.md) (Society; References)
- [OutputGuard](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/OutputGuard.md) (Infrastructure; References)
- [PerspectiveEnsemble](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/PerspectiveEnsemble.md) (Mind; References)
- [Reframe](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Reframe.md) (Mind; References)
- [RootSolver](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/RootSolver.md) (Mind; References)
- [SteelmanFirst](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/SteelmanFirst.md) (Mind; References)
- [StepBack](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/StepBack.md) (Mind; References)
- [UniversalSolverTree](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/UniversalSolverTree.md) (Society; References)
- [UptakeOverTimestamp](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/UptakeOverTimestamp.md) (Society; References)
- [WhyClimb](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/WhyClimb.md) (Mind; References)

## Identity

- Sema ID: `sema:Problem#mh:SHA-256:2580c43677ec78ee7ee428d200662c6096e4eab38c2c5a868154979074cc0f08`
- Ref: `Problem#2580`
- Supersedes:
  - `sema:Problem#mh:SHA-256:5baa4b94e48686c15413bc92447c72917fb2f77109436b4a57aae6ee982fd311`
  - `sema:Problem#mh:SHA-256:9d2c77f7ce7fd7d2e35fe45495d6124d43d35ce41b1766c6b428cfcba44486de`

## Links

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