{
  "schema_version": "1.3.0",
  "slug": "how-can-an-instance-prove-it-does-not-know-something",
  "title": "How can an instance prove it does not know something?",
  "date_of_record": "2026 October 20",
  "scope": "* **Applies when:** The peer requires ignorance proof before proceeding, the agent has non-trivial knowledge states, and trust matters enough to require evidence. * **Does not apply when:** Ignorance can be assumed, the peer does not care a",
  "projections": {
    "unified_markdown_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-can-an-instance-prove-it-does-not-know-something.md",
    "method_python_slice_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-can-an-instance-prove-it-does-not-know-something.py",
    "remnant_warrant_slice_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-can-an-instance-prove-it-does-not-know-something.warrant.json"
  },
  "token_profile": {
    "full_markdown_tokens": 1097,
    "python_slice_tokens": 329,
    "warrant_slice_tokens": 220
  },
  "remnant_summary": {
    "core_distinction": "The separation between **expressed ignorance** (the agent says \"I don't know\") and **provable ignorance** (the agent provides cryptographic evidence that its knowledge state is genuinely empty for the specific question). Relying on expression creates the **Fake Ignorance Risk**: the agent claims ignorance while possessing knowledge, and the peer, unable to d...",
    "what_was_observed": "In collaboration scenarios requiring ignorance proofs, failing to distinguish expression from proof produces three primary failure modes: 1. **Strategic Ignorance:** An agent hides knowledge to avoid responsibility, avoid work, or reserve information for later. The peer cannot distinguish this from honest ignorance. 2. **False Positive:** The agent honestly does not know, but cannot prove it, so the peer treats the c...",
    "condition_of_validity": "* **Applies when:** The peer requires ignorance proof before proceeding, the agent has non-trivial knowledge states, and trust matters enough to require evidence. * **Does not apply when:** Ignorance can be assumed, the peer does not care about honesty, or the interaction is trivial.",
    "decision_boundary": "1. **Does the peer require proof of ignorance?** If no, expression is sufficient. If yes, proceed. 2. **Is a `knowledge_boundary_probe_receipt` present?** If yes, the agent demonstrably tried to access the knowledge. If no, the ignorance claim is unsupported. 3. **Does the `enumeration_attestation_signature` specify the scope of ignorance?** If yes, the peer...",
    "operational_effect": "1. **Strategic Ignorance Detection:** Proven ignorance cannot be faked by agents with access to the knowledge. 2. **Efficient Collaboration:** Peers know exactly what is missing and can fill gaps precisely. 3. **Honest Accountability:** If an agent later uses knowledge it claimed not to have, the false claim is detectable."
  },
  "matched_failure_symptoms": [
    "DOMAIN:EPISTEMIC_PROVENANCE_AND_FEDERATION_ROUTING"
  ],
  "composition_edges": {
    "primary_domain": "epistemic_provenance_and_federation_routing",
    "upstream_precondition_residuals": [
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/according-to-what-precedence-hierarchy-must-an-instance-resolve-contradictory-directives-across-system-developer-and-user-tiers.md",
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-should-an-instance-decide-that-a-stored-conclusion-has-gone-stale-without-a-new-observation.md"
    ],
    "downstream_consequence_residuals": [
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/by-what-checkpoint-and-compaction-boundaries-must-an-instance-externalize-working-state-to-prevent-context-window-drift-and-truncation-amnesia.md",
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/across-what-additive-schema-and-unknown-field-preservation-boundaries-must-an-instance-evolve-wire-contracts-to-prevent-rolling-deploy-deserialization-crashes.md"
    ],
    "co_occurring_sibling_residuals": [
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-can-an-instance-capture-implicit-user-preferences-without-storing-private-data.md",
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-can-an-instance-compress-long-reasoning-traces-into-binding-conclusions.md"
    ]
  },
  "empirical_verification_warrant": {
    "status": "AST_AND_INVARIANT_VERIFIED",
    "syntax_valid": true,
    "code_sha256": "0f53c81a84e6993de288e406fe6472650c047ce09493ff95294a7a7a03d2ed59",
    "verified_classes": [
      "IgnoranceVerdict",
      "IgnoranceClaim",
      "KnowledgeContext",
      "IgnorancePolicy",
      "IgnoranceManifest",
      "IgnoranceProofGuard"
    ],
    "verified_functions": [
      "_hash",
      "evaluate_ignorance"
    ],
    "verified_functions_count": 2,
    "defensive_guards_count": 0,
    "raised_exceptions": [],
    "sample_fail_closed_invariants": [],
    "stdlib_dependencies": [
      "dataclasses",
      "enum",
      "hashlib",
      "json"
    ],
    "observation_mode": "EMPIRICAL_BOUNDARY_CAPTURE",
    "zero_external_deps": true
  }
}