> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://honest-scholar.science/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# ADR-0004: Understanding principle + the defend skill

> The dual of agency (ADR-0003): if the skills won't do the research, the author must actually understand their work and methods to a mentor/reviewer standard…

* Status: accepted · Date: 2026-07-17 · Deciders: Davor Runje

## Context

The dual of agency (ADR-0003): if the skills won't *do* the research, the author
must actually *understand* their work and methods to a mentor/reviewer standard —
otherwise they can't make good material decisions. Two examination objects emerged:
the author's own work, and the methodology the skills embody (anti-cargo-cult).

## Decision drivers

* Illusion of explanatory depth: self-assessed understanding is unreliable until
  probed; examination both reveals and (via retrieval/self-explanation) builds it.
* Following rigor rituals blindly is cargo-cult science.
* Goal is growth, not producing work the author can't defend.

## Considered options

1. **Second top-level principle + a cross-cutting `defend` tutor-examiner** that
   verifies *and teaches* understanding.
2. No explicit understanding check (rely on the author).
3. A grader that scores understanding.

## Decision

Option 1. The `defend` skill probes → teaches (source-grounded) → re-probes;
self-invoked and fired as an automatic guardrail at material-decision checkpoints.

## Consequences

* Adds a cross-cutting skill and a guardrail at the three material decisions.
* Must not assert an answer key for novel claims (see ADR-0015).

## Rejected alternatives

* **No check** — leaves the illusion of explanatory depth unaddressed.
* **Scoring** — Goodhart-prone; would grade substance the AI can't authoritatively
  judge.

## Links

meta-spec §2.2, §3.7; digest `understanding-and-defense.md`.