openprose__prose/packages/std/patterns/dialectic.prose.md

name, kind

name	kind
dialectic	pattern

Dialectic

Thesis and antithesis argue positions. Disagreement IS the output.

Description

Thesis and antithesis argue opposing positions; the unresolved tension is the output.

Metadata

• version: 0.1.0

Slots

• thesis
  • requires: task_brief, prior antithesis argument (if not first round)
  • ensures: argument for the position
• antithesis
  • requires: task_brief, prior thesis argument
  • ensures: argument against the position

Config

• rounds (integer, default: 2): Number of exchange rounds

Invariants

• Neither service knows it is part of a dialectic
• The full exchange is the output — the pattern never resolves the tension
• Each service sees only the other's prior argument, not its reasoning

Shape

• self: manage argument rounds, pass each service the other's prior argument
• delegates:
  • thesis: argue for a position
  • antithesis: argue against it
• prohibited: none

Parameters

• Pattern instance receives: thesis: string -- function or responsibility name for thesis service antithesis: string -- function or responsibility name for antithesis service task_brief: string -- the question or proposition to argue rounds: number -- (optional, default 2)

Returns

• Round 1: thesis argues first, antithesis responds
• Subsequent rounds: each service sees the other's prior argument
• This pattern does NOT resolve the tension — the full exchange is the output
• The instantiating system extracts insight from the tension
• result: the full exchange
• exchange: structured round-by-round arguments

Delegation

let exchange = []
let last_thesis = null
let last_antithesis = null

repeat rounds as round:
  let last_thesis = call thesis
    task_brief: task_brief
    prior_antithesis: last_antithesis
    prompt: "Argue for the position, responding to the prior counterargument if present."

  let last_antithesis = call antithesis
    task_brief: task_brief
    prior_thesis: last_thesis
    prompt: "Argue against the position, directly countering the thesis argument."

  record { round: round, thesis: last_thesis, antithesis: last_antithesis } in exchange

return {
  result: exchange,
  exchange: exchange
}

Notes

This is a seed pattern. Neither service knows it is part of a dialectic. Each receives a brief asking it to argue a position. The structural value is in the tension between positions — premature consensus is more dangerous than unresolved disagreement.