Subject-matter framework

Course source base

The course uses four supplied synthesis papers as a substantial subject-matter development base, supported by primary historical works, structured analytic tradecraft and the program’s human-oversight methodology.

The synthesis papers are not presented as equal in authority to every primary or institutional source they discuss. The course distinguishes working synthesis from primary/authoritative foundations and avoids relying on weak secondary sources where stronger originals are available.

Course subject-matter synthesis supplied by the program developer

Operationalizing Epistemic Rigor

Used for Baconian blind spots, Deweyan inquiry, cognitive offloading, automated confidence, problem framing and AI-era epistemic discipline.

Course subject-matter synthesis supplied by the program developer

Structured Analytic Tradecraft / Analysis of Competing Hypotheses

Used for competing hypotheses, diagnostic evidence, source evaluation, disconfirmation, sensitivity and review.

Course subject-matter synthesis supplied by the program developer

Applied Red Teaming

Used for premortems, assumption sensitivity, vulnerability analysis, Devil’s Advocacy, Four Ways of Seeing and warning indicators.

Course subject-matter synthesis supplied by the program developer

Dialectical Defense, Pragmatic Logic, and Abductive Inquiry

Used for eristic tactics, argumentative defense, fallacies, Peircean abduction and adversarial reasoning.

Primary historical source

Francis Bacon — Novum Organum

Foundation for the Idols as recurring sources of error in inquiry.

Primary historical source

John Dewey — How We Think

Foundation for reflective inquiry and defining/testing a difficulty.

Primary historical source

Charles Sanders Peirce — writings on abduction and inquiry

Foundation for generating plausible explanations for surprising observations.

Authoritative analytic tradecraft source

Richards J. Heuer Jr. — Psychology of Intelligence Analysis

Foundation for cognitive bias awareness and Analysis of Competing Hypotheses.

Primary historical source

Arthur Schopenhauer — Eristic Dialectic / The Art of Being Right

Historical source for adversarial rhetorical stratagems; course uses these as recognition tools, not as tactics to manipulate others.

Primary historical source

W. Stanley Jevons — Elementary Lessons in Logic

Historical logic and fallacy foundation.

Instructional method

Socratic questioning tradition

Used as a question architecture for clarification, evidence, assumptions, alternatives, perspectives and consequences.

Program methodology

Mounted Rifles Management Limited human-oversight / AI-governance training method

Used for verification, responsibility, escalation and meaningful human review. Patent pending methods may apply.

Important: connections between historical philosophical ideas and modern AI/cognitive failure modes are used as applied interpretations unless a specific empirical source establishes a causal relationship.