---
slug: epistemic-authority
title: Epistemic Authority
state: super-draft
id: null
repo: null
proposed_by: ben.stull@wiggleverse.org
proposed_at: '2026-06-01'
graduated_at: null
graduated_by: null
owners:
- ben.stull
arbiters: []
tags:
- governance
---

When the system and a Human disagree about reality — did the payment settle, was the item as described, who is right in a dispute — whose account counts? This RFC applies OHM's commitment to the Human as the authority on their own life to commerce, including the deliberate, argued exceptions where a human claim is demoted (for example, 'shown is not settled' demotes a buyer's claim to have paid). Those exceptions must be principled and narrow, not a general license to override the person.