update-confidence-from-evidence

Purpose

Update confidence in a concept, relation, claim, or model component from new supporting or contradicting evidence.

Input contract

required: [target_record, prior_confidence, new_evidence, update_rule]
optional: [support_weights, contradiction_weights, confidence_floor]
constraints: [each update cites evidence direction, provenance, weight rule, and prior state]

Procedure

1. Verify target identity and freeze the prior confidence and evidence ledger.
2. Classify each new item as supporting, contradicting, or non-informative under the declared rule.
3. Apply the update rule, record the weight and direction, and cap the result to the permitted confidence range.
4. Emit the updated confidence, evidence trace, and unresolved conflicts.

Output contract

produces: [updated_confidence, evidence_trace, conflict_register, update_rationale]
delta_fields: [findings, evidence_updates, hypothesis_updates, uncertainties, decisions]