Mind · Reasoning
Reason
Execute a cognitive topology
Definition
Mechanism
Orchestrated cognition that chains multiple Think steps using a specific Topology (e.g., Chain of Thought, Tree of Thoughts). Transforms Context into conclusions, plans, or decisions while respecting ComputeBudget. The bridge between atomic thinking and structured problem-solving.
Preconditions
- Context is available and readable
- ComputeBudget is available
Postconditions
- A conclusion, plan, or decision is generated
- The reasoning trace is recorded
Invariants
- Bounded Execution: must respect ComputeBudget.
- Structure Adherence: must follow the rules of the selected reasoning Topology.
- A reasoning step does not change the world outside the agent; recording the trace is not such a change. World-changing steps are Acts of the composing pattern.
Risks
Failure modes
Analysis Paralysis
too much compute on a decision with diminishing returns.
Circular Reasoning
the thought process loops back to the premise.
Context Window Overflow
the reasoning trace exceeds memory capacity.
Reasoning past the evidence
the Context did not support a conclusion and one was produced.
Relationships
Builds on
Accepts
Infrastructure
Portable execution environment with inherited constraints
References
Infrastructure
Sequential data container (linked list)
Economic governor for cognitive spend
Infrastructure
Interface for reasoning structures
Infrastructure
Branching reasoning topology
Used by
Composes with
Expansion of cognitive capability through recursive decomposition of concepts into contract-bounded sub-concepts
Solver implementing the five-surface contract (polymorphic across substrates)
References
Society
Layered, multi-pass improvement
Reference