fpf-knowledge

First Principles Framework (FPF)

An "Operating System for Thought" — a transdisciplinary architecture for reasoning, written in human- and machine-readable pseudo-code. FPF turns raw intelligence (human or machine) into organisationally usable reasoning: explicit bounded contexts, auditable artefacts, multi-view descriptions, and disciplined hand-offs between specialised actors.

Quick Start

New to FPF? Start here:

1. Read the problem. What are you actually trying to do?
2. Pick a verb from the router table below — it tells you where to go in the spec.
3. Use a command if you want guided, step-by-step help:
   • /fpf-decompose — break a system into parts
   • /fpf-evaluate — compare alternatives and score confidence
   • /fpf-reason — think through a question with the ADI cycle
4. Read plain language first, FPF terms second. The framework is a tool, not a religion.

Use cases

Use FPF whenever you need to think more rigorously than the situation's default.

• Decompose a messy, cross-domain problem into parts that can be reasoned about independently
• Make a high-stakes decision with incomplete evidence — and know what evidence is still missing
• Get a mixed team to reason together without vocabulary collisions or hidden assumptions
• Audit whether a conclusion is well-founded or just plausible
• Transfer an insight across domains without losing precision or introducing category errors
• Structure a proposal that must survive scrutiny from multiple expert perspectives
• Generate alternatives systematically instead of anchoring on the first idea
• Define what "better" means before comparing options

How to navigate

The use cases above help decide WHETHER to invoke FPF. The router below decides WHERE to go once invoked.

Step 1 — Match the thinking need to a starting point

What you need to do	Start here
Decompose a complex whole into bounded parts	04 Kernel → A.1 Holons, A.1.1 Bounded Contexts, A.14 Mereology
Assign roles and responsibilities	04 Kernel → A.2 Roles, A.15 Role-Method-Work Alignment
Set boundaries on what statements mean	05 Signature Stack → classify as definitions, gates, duties, or evidence
Prevent category errors (role vs. function, method vs. work)	06 Constitutional Principles → A.7 Strict Distinction
Evaluate confidence in a claim or artifact	07 Part B → B.3 Trust & Assurance; 08 Part C → C.2 F-G-R scoring
Compose parts into wholes preserving properties	07 Part B → B.1 Gamma algebra; 08 Part C → C.13 Compose-CAL
Reason through a problem systematically	07 Part B → B.5 Reasoning Cycle, B.5.2 Abductive Loop
Generate alternatives / explore solution space	08 Part C → C.18 NQD Open-Ended Search, C.19 Explore-Exploit
Measure and compare options rigorously	06 A.V → A.17-A.19 Characteristics & CSLC; 08 Part C → C.16 MM-CHR
Score knowledge quality (formality, scope, reliability)	08 Part C → C.2 KD-CAL, C.2.2 Reliability, C.2.3 Formality
Resolve conflicts across stakeholders or values	09 Part D → Ethics & Conflict
Unify vocabulary across teams or domains	13 F.I Context of Meaning → 14-15 UTS tables → 20 Lexical Debt
Document for multiple audiences	11 E-I Constitution → E.17 Multi-View Publication Kit
Survey a discipline and build a reusable toolkit	16 Part G → SoTA Packs, TraditionCards, OperatorCards
Trace provenance of a claim	06 A.V → A.10 Evidence Graph; 16 Part G → G.6 Provenance Ledger

For complex problems, follow paths across multiple sections — the router shows where to start, not where to stop.

Step 2 — Read the _index.md, then the sub-section

1. Open the _index.md of the target section folder — it lists all sub-sections with line counts and descriptions.
2. Read only the specific sub-section file you need.
3. Do NOT load entire sections. Pick the narrowest file that serves the user's question.

Step 3 — Apply in plain language

Use plain language for the user. Introduce FPF-internal names (U.Holon, Gamma, F-G-R) only when they add precision the user needs.

Step 4 — Compose findings across sections

When a problem draws from multiple sections:

1. State each pattern's contribution in one line (e.g., "Bounded Contexts gives us the parts; Trust Calculus scores our confidence in each").
2. If patterns from different sections appear to conflict, check for category errors via A.7 Strict Distinction — the conflict is usually a level confusion (role vs. function, method vs. work), not a real contradiction.
3. Synthesize in natural order: decomposition first (what are the parts?), then evaluation (how confident are we?), then resolution (what do we do about gaps?).
4. Do not just list FPF patterns — weave them into a coherent answer to the user's actual question.

Applied Patterns

Practical, step-by-step guides for the most common FPF workflows. These bridge the gap between the formal specification and everyday use.

Pattern	What it does	Guide	Command
Decomposition	Break a system into bounded contexts with roles and interfaces	decomposition-guide	/fpf-decompose
Evaluation	Compare alternatives using F-G-R scoring and Trust Calculus	evaluation-guide	/fpf-evaluate
Reasoning	Think through a question using the ADI cycle	reasoning-guide	/fpf-reason
Forgeplan Integration	Map FPF outputs to forgeplan artefacts (PRD, RFC, ADR)	forgeplan-integration	—

Forgeplan Integration (route → shape → reason → evidence)

When forgeplan is available, FPF outputs map directly to project artefacts:

1. Route — Use the thinking-verb router to find the right FPF section.
2. Shape — Apply decomposition, evaluation, or reasoning to produce structured output.
3. Reason — Capture the WHY in an ADR so the team can audit decisions later.
4. Evidence — Score confidence with Trust Calculus; log gaps so they become tasks.

FPF output	Forgeplan artefact	Captures
System decomposition	PRD	WHAT the system must do
Context design	RFC	HOW a part is built
Decision evaluation	ADR	WHY a choice was made
Confidence scores	Evidence log	TRUST level and gaps

Starter prompt (example — adapt to the user's actual role and need)

You have the FPF specification loaded. Help me structure my project / problem / programme. Use plain language for an engineer-manager. Propose: (1) bounded contexts / specialisations, (2) decision criteria, (3) key alternatives, (4) hand-offs, and (5) missing evidence or tests before commitment. Introduce internal FPF names only when they add precision.

Section INDEX

Structural reference. Each entry is a folder — read its _index.md first, then pick the sub-section.

#	Section	Sub	When to use
01	Title page	0	Authorship, version date, top-level identity.
02	Table of Content	0	Navigate the spec, locate a pattern, trace inter-section dependencies.
03	Preface	17	Onboard: reading paths by role, FPF philosophy, purpose and non-goals.
04	Part A — Kernel	19	Decompose and assign: holons, bounded contexts, roles, transformers, method/work separation.
05	A.IV.A — Signatures	18	Set boundaries: classify statements as definitions, gates, duties, or evidence.
06	A.V — Principles	29	Prevent confusion: category errors, measuring, comparing, evidence graphs.
07	Part B — Reasoning	24	Compose and evaluate: aggregation (Gamma), trust scores, emergence, reasoning cycles.
08	Part C — Extensions	30	Score and search: epistemic quality (F-G-R), kinds, measurement, open-ended search.
09	Part D — Ethics	1	Resolve conflicts: ethical trade-offs, bias auditing, safety overrides.
10	Part E — Constitution	0	Entry point for Part E subsections.
11	E-I — Constitution	29	Govern and publish: 11 Pillars, guard-rails, multi-view publication (MVPK).
12	Part F — Unification	0	Entry point for Part F subsections.
13	F.I — Meaning	19	Align vocabulary: semantic drift, homonym collisions, Alignment Bridges.
14	UTS Layout A	0	Map concepts across standards (BPMN, PROV-O, ITIL).
15	UTS Layout B	1	Map concepts across disciplines (operations, physics, math).
16	Part G — SoTA Kit	15	Harvest disciplines: SoTA Packs, TraditionCards, OperatorCards, benchmarks.
17	Part H — Glossary	0	Look up terms: canonical definitions, four-register naming, cross-references.
18	Part I — Annexes	0	Walkthroughs, change log, external standards mappings.
19	Part J — Indexes	0	Concept-to-pattern, pattern-to-example, principle-trace indexes.
20	Part K — Lexical Debt	2	Fix terminology: mandatory replacements and migration debt.
AP	Applied Patterns	4	Practical guides: decomposition, evaluation, reasoning, forgeplan integration.