How to Read MCF 2.2
This page explains how to interpret the MCF 2.2 materials, which documents are authoritative, and how to sequence reading when decisions must be grounded in evidence rather than intuition or preference.
Provide readers with a clear hierarchy of sources so they can distinguish between normative rules (Canon) and explanatory guidance (Book), and avoid misusing descriptive examples as prescriptive instructions.
- How the Canon and the Book relate epistemically.
- How evidence and decision thresholds should be interpreted when reading.
- How to navigate the framework when pages appear to overlap in topic.
Use it to orient reading order and resolve conflicts between explanatory content and Canon constraints.
Canon vs Book
Canon is normative: it defines terms, constraints, decision logic, and epistemic boundaries. "Normative" means it specifies what is permitted, required, or disallowed when making decisions under MCF 2.2.
Book is explanatory: it interprets Canon concepts in applied contexts, illustrates their use, and surfaces common pitfalls. It does not create new rules or override Canon.
If there is any ambiguity or conflict, Canon always prevails.
Reading For Decisions
Use the following decision path to avoid relying on explanation alone:
- Locate the Canon constraint that governs the decision you are making.
- Read the relevant Book chapter to understand how the constraint is interpreted in context.
- Identify the assumption being advanced and the epistemic stage it claims to support.
- Confirm the evidence threshold that must be met to justify movement.
- Decide whether to proceed, pause, or revise based on evidence sufficiency.
- Record the decision and link the supporting evidence for traceability.
This sequence is intentional: explanation does not substitute for epistemic validation.
How Evidence Appears In The Book
Book chapters include minimal evidence expectations as non-prescriptive signals of what evidence is needed to justify decisions. These are guidance patterns, not checklists.
Evidence quality is described at a high level in terms of relevance, validity, recency, and triangulation, without introducing new formal criteria beyond the Canon.
Avoiding Misuse
Common misuse patterns include:
- treating Book chapters as step-by-step checklists
- claiming certification or guarantees from Book guidance
- skipping Canon boundaries while citing Book examples
When these occur, the framework is being misrepresented. Use the boundaries and misuse guidance to correct course.
When To Jump Around
The Book layer is modular. It is reasonable to jump to a chapter when an urgent governance or decision gap must be addressed. If you jump ahead, return to earlier chapters to backfill assumptions and evidence thresholds.
References In This Site
Inline citations use Harvard style. Full references are centralized in
docs/meta/references.mdx.