Knowledge System Layers

Knowledge system layers are the distinct architectural components that make up Coscientist. Separating these layers enables different concerns to evolve independently.

Data Layer

• Evidence Span — raw quoted text preserved verbatim
• Source — provenance anchors for traceability

Inference Layer

• Inference Layer — the living, evolving network of claims and relations
• Claim, Attack, Undercut, and other Argumentative Relations

Narrative Layer

• Narrative Layer — human-readable projections of the graph
• Documents as time-stamped snapshots, not ground truth

Protocol Layer

• Epistemic Protocol Layer — rules for how claims enter and gain authority
• Knowledge Constitution — the governing document for knowledge operations

Separation Principle

• Triple Separation — keeping raw text, normalized claims, and relations distinct