cv-convergent-validation

name	cv - Convergent Validation
description	Solve the infinite critic problem by using multiple independent validation criteria — accept when they converge, investigate when they diverge.
output	{"format":"prose"}

Convergent Validation

Input: $ARGUMENTS

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Overview

Any single critic can be criticized. The infinite regress of "but how do you validate the validator?" never terminates. The solution: don't rely on one criterion. Apply multiple INDEPENDENT validation methods. If they converge on the same answer, confidence is warranted. If they diverge, that's where the real questions are.

Steps

Step 1: State What's Being Validated

1. What claim, output, or decision needs validation?
2. What would "valid" mean concretely?

Step 2: Identify Independent Validation Methods

Generate 3+ methods that rely on different assumptions:

• Empirical: Does evidence support it?
• Logical: Does the reasoning hold?
• Predictive: Does it predict correctly?
• Expert consensus: Do knowledgeable people agree?
• Adversarial: Does it survive attack? (→ /stc, /advr)
• Internal consistency: Does it contradict itself?
• Cross-domain: Does it hold in analogous situations?

Key: methods must be INDEPENDENT (one passing doesn't make another more likely to pass)

Step 3: Apply Each Method

For each validation method:

1. Apply it to the subject
2. Result: PASS / FAIL / AMBIGUOUS
3. Confidence in this method's result: high / medium / low

Step 4: Check Convergence

Pattern	Meaning	Action
All converge PASS	High confidence valid	Accept
All converge FAIL	High confidence invalid	Reject
Most PASS, one FAIL	Investigate the failure — is it the method or the subject?	Investigate
Mixed	Genuine uncertainty	Refine methods or accept uncertainty
All AMBIGUOUS	Methods aren't powerful enough for this subject	Find better methods

Step 5: Report

CONVERGENT VALIDATION:
Subject: [what was validated]

| Method | Result | Confidence |
|--------|--------|------------|
| [method] | PASS/FAIL | H/M/L |

Convergence: [all agree / mostly agree / mixed / divergent]
Verdict: [valid / invalid / uncertain]
Key divergence: [if any methods disagree, which and why]

When to Use

• High-stakes decisions needing rigorous validation
• When "how do you know?" questions persist
• When single validation methods feel insufficient

Verification

• 3+ independent methods used
• Methods genuinely independent (different assumptions)
• Convergence/divergence pattern analyzed
• Divergences investigated (not ignored)