# Epistemic Status Separation **Domain:** Epistemology / Algorithmic Governance / Evidence **Doc Type:** Canonical Governance Principle **Maturity:** Developed ## Definition **Epistemic status separation** requires a governing system to preserve the difference between observation, inference, suspicion, allegation, hypothesis, prediction, finding, sentence and identity. These states may legitimately produce different levels of attention or precaution. They must not silently inherit one another's authority. ## Constitutional Function A prediction may justify investigation without becoming a verdict. An allegation may justify preservation of evidence without becoming permanent identity. A finding may authorize a proportionate consequence without following the subject forever. The principle operationalizes [[wiki/Prediction Is Not Jurisdiction|Prediction Is Not Jurisdiction]], supports [[wiki/Score Separability|Score Separability]] and gives [[wiki/Model Contestability|Model Contestability]] a precise object: not only whether a claim is correct, but what kind of claim it is. ## Corpus Context [[articles/Ambiguity Will Destroy Man and Machine|Ambiguity Will Destroy Man and Machine]] makes explicit status declaration a condition of legitimate machine adjudication. [[articles/Peak Person and the Predicaments of Prediction|Peak Person and the Predicaments of Prediction]] demonstrates the harm created when forecast-derived risk is treated as completed destiny. ## Key Insight **Uncertainty becomes domination when a system conceals the epistemic status of the claims through which it governs.**