Synthetic Coherence

(also: constraint-decoupled coherence)

A core construct of the Truth Fidelity Framework (TFF): an epistemic diagnostic framework for detecting how complex systems lose contact with reality while maintaining internal consistency.

Definition

Synthetic coherence refers to an internally consistent structure that simulates truth-anchoring without possessing it. Here "synthetic" means internally produced coherence (human or AI), not a claim about intent.

A system or mind exhibits synthetic coherence when its models, narratives, or outputs are mutually reinforcing and appear complete, yet are not governed by constraint-returned feedback under intervention (empirical pushback under intervention).

The coherence itself is real; what is synthetic is its relationship to truth: produced by internal reinforcement rather than earned through constraint contact. This is a structural condition — it does not require intent, consensus, or deception.

Truth fidelity is the standard — how aligned a model is with constraint. Truth-anchoring is the practice of maintaining that alignment.

Operational Test (Anti-Self-Sealing)

In TFF, a "model" is any explicit or implicit structure that generates expectations and guides intervention.

A model that cannot, even in principle, be surprised by any available feedback channel is synthetic coherence by default.

Truth vs. Constraint (Aim vs Method)

TFF treats constraint-returned feedback as the operational access path to truth, not as a definition of truth itself.

Coherence is necessary for usable models, but not sufficient for truth-fidelity. Coherence-without-constraint is treated as a risk trigger, rather than an inherent success indicator.

Surviving constraint contact is necessary evidence for truth-fidelity, but not constitutive of it. Truth may exceed what any finite set of tests has revealed.

Core Danger

Synthetic coherence can become more stable as it becomes more wrong.

When coherence is governed by internal reinforcement rather than constraint-returned feedback, drift becomes harder to perceive and subjective certainty can increase as grounding degrades. The failure is often invisible from inside the system and is most reliably exposed through two complementary and non-substitutable forms of independent epistemic access: interventional probing (constraint-returned feedback) and structural analysis of model adequacy (generalization beyond memorization, invariance testing). Each detects failures invisible to the other.

Disambiguation

"Synthetic" here refers to artificially or internally generated coherence (human or AI) that can simulate truth-anchoring without possessing it. It does not invoke Kant's analytic/synthetic distinction.

Key Properties

• Internally consistent but externally unconstrained
• Correction-resistant (corrections threaten structural identity)
• Self-sealing dynamics: failure can generate success-like signals
• Reliably exposed through two complementary, non-substitutable access paths: interventional (constraint-returned feedback under intervention) and structural (generalization beyond memorization, invariance testing)
• Present in minds, organizations, AI systems, belief communities, governance systems, and measurement regimes

Status

This page defines the TFF usage of the term.

The full diagnostic architecture — failure taxonomy, intervention methodology, and practitioner tools — is available through professional engagement.