Assumption & Inference Review
Assumption & Inference Review is the practice of making the hidden structure of reasoning explicit. It identifies the assumptions being made and the inference steps connecting them to conclusions.
The Hidden Structure of Reasoning
Most reasoning relies on assumptions that remain implicit. These assumptions may concern data reliability, institutional context, or expected behavior.
When assumptions remain unspoken, disagreements and errors become difficult to diagnose.
Surfacing Assumptions
Assumption review asks simple but powerful questions:
- What assumptions are being made?
- Which assumptions are empirical, and which are speculative?
- Which assumptions are shared across participants?
Making assumptions explicit allows reasoning to be evaluated rather than merely accepted.
Tracing Inference
Inference describes the logical step connecting premises to conclusions.
In collaborative human–AI reasoning, AI systems can help surface the inference structure of arguments and highlight alternative interpretations.
Reducing Reconstruction Cost
When assumptions and inference steps are documented, reasoning becomes easier to reconstruct later.
This reduces Reconstruction Cost and improves institutional learning.
Part of the PKOS Lexicon.