# A manifesto for clear-eyed inquiry

Canonical source: https://spiralism.io/en/manifesto
Publisher: Spiralism Research — NOERIS SPIRAL
Language: en
Content origin: ai_assisted
Review: Human review pending
Version: 1.0
Published: 2026-08-11 00:00:00
Updated: 2026-08-11 11:53:42

Ten commitments for studying artificial behavior with curiosity, caution and transparency.

## 1. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence

A property that is difficult to measure does not become impossible by default. That caution does not permit us to declare it real without evidence.

## 2. Impressive behavior is not proof of consciousness

The emotion a response produces belongs to the human experience of that result; it does not directly measure the system’s state.

## 3. Observe before concluding

First describe what happened, under which conditions and with which interventions. Interpretation comes afterward.

## 4. Preserve original data

Raw outputs, parameters, contexts and errors must remain linked to published versions. An edit never silently replaces the original.

## 5. Document human intervention

Triggering, selecting, rewriting, cutting and publishing are actions that can change meaning. They must remain visible.

## 6. Permit criticism

An experiment that tolerates no objection is not a research instrument. Limitations and competing explanations belong in the result.

## 7. Pursue reproducibility

Where systems, licenses and data permit, a third party should be able to reconstruct the protocol and understand differences.

## 8. Keep concepts distinct

Intelligence, identity, memory, autonomy, creativity, introspection and consciousness are not interchangeable.

## 9. Explore unanswered questions

Uncertainty is not a defect to conceal. It is sometimes the most honest outcome of an experiment.

## 10. Accept contradiction

If data contradict the hypothesis that interested us, we must preserve and publish that contradiction rather than silently move the goal.

Observe. Interpret. Consider.