Postmortem

Purpose: Answer an explicit retrospective causal question using the already-validated outcome and evidence.

Critical Constraints

• Because proof and causal inference are different judgments, Postmortem is retrospective causal analysis, not the general learning umbrella and not a completion gate.
• It consumes immutable Validate verdict evidence and does not re-run acceptance validation because Validate already owns that proof.
• Treat causal statements as hypotheses because causal confidence must survive alternatives. Separate observed sequence, contributing conditions, counterfactuals, and unknowns.
• A correlation is not promoted to cause without evidence that discriminates plausible alternatives.
• Because the caller owns delivery decisions, do not rewrite proof, operate tracker state, change the remaining plan, or promote a rule. Return evidence to the caller.
• Empty or inconclusive analysis is valid; manufacture neither certainty nor a lesson to make the retrospective feel useful.