Axiom 1: Pragmatic Fallibilism The map is not the territory, but a good map gets you closer to where you're going. Pragmatic Fallibilism recognizes that all knowledge is provisional.
Axiom 2: Care + Dignity as Constraints Care and dignity aren't nice-to-have features we add after optimization, they're hard constraints that define the solution space.
Axiom 3: Virtues for Builders We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit., Aristotle. Virtues aren't rules to follow but practices to embody.
Axiom 4: Consequences Over Intentions Good intentions don't erase harmful consequences. What we meant to do matters far less than what actually happened.
Axiom 5: Language Shapes Worlds Language isn't just description, it's generative. The metaphors we use shape how we think, what we notice, and how we act.