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DKP-4-EPISTEMIC-TRANSITIONS-001

Version: 1.0 · Status: Draft — Freeze Candidate

Epistemic State Transition Protocol

Layer: L2–L4 Boundary

Depends on:

  • DKP-1-EPISTEMIC-BOUNDARIES-001
  • DKP-1-JUSTICE-001
  • DKP-2-FINANCE-001
  • DKP-2-ASSETS-001
  • DKP-4-CRISIS-001

Override: Not permitted

1. Purpose

This protocol defines deterministic behavior of the system when epistemic state of any upstream output changes over time.

It ensures that:

  • previously valid outputs do not persist beyond epistemic validity
  • enforcement actions remain coupled to current measurable conditions
  • no historical output is treated as persistent authority

2. Scope

Applies to all protocols producing or consuming epistemic outputs.

Covers:

  • validity_state transitions
  • confidence_state degradation
  • consistency_state conflicts
  • revalidation triggers

3. Core Invariants

  1. No output remains operational beyond its epistemic validity.
  2. Epistemic degradation MUST propagate downstream.
  3. No historical VALID state creates persistent authority.
  4. Re-evaluation is required for any state-dependent enforcement.

4. Transition Rules

4.1 Downgrade Propagation

If any upstream epistemic field changes:

  • VALID → CONDITIONAL / INVALID
  • CONSISTENT → ORACLE_CONFLICT
  • SUFFICIENT_DATA → DEGRADED_SIGNAL

Then all dependent outputs SHALL:

  • set revalidation_required = TRUE
  • enter execution suspension or status quo mode
  • prevent further enforcement escalation

4.2 No Persistence Without Revalidation

No enforcement output SHALL remain active solely based on past VALID state if:

  • epistemic state has degraded
  • new admissible data is introduced
  • consistency is no longer maintained

4.3 Status Quo Preservation

During epistemic uncertainty or dispute:

  • system SHALL preserve current state
  • SHALL halt escalation
  • SHALL prevent penalty accumulation
  • SHALL await deterministic recomputation

4.4 Re-entry Rule

Resumption of enforcement requires:

  • new valid output
  • full epistemic metadata
  • recomputation under updated inputs

Previous outputs SHALL NOT auto-reactivate.

4.5 No Retroactive Truth

Past VALID outputs SHALL NOT be treated as evidence of correctness if later:

  • conflict emerges
  • data is invalidated
  • scope is violated

All outputs remain subject to epistemic reclassification.

5. Failure Prevention

This protocol prevents:

  • authority accumulation from past outputs
  • delayed epistemic drift
  • persistence of invalid enforcement
  • silent degradation of system-state coupling

6. Audit Requirements

L8 MUST test:

  • downgrade propagation correctness
  • enforcement suspension behavior
  • revalidation triggers
  • prevention of state persistence

7. Protocol Finality

Once frozen, this protocol is immutable.

Any modification requires:

  • a new protocol identifier,
  • explicit incompatibility declaration,
  • full-system simulation under DKP-8-SIMULATION-001,
  • explicit compatibility declaration with DKP-1-EPISTEMIC-BOUNDARIES-001.

Protocol Hash (SHA-256): [to be inserted at freeze]

END OF PROTOCOL