principle-attack-the-premise
Apply when two or more fixes that share one premise have failed the same gate. Write the premise down and test it directly before you write another fix that assumes it.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/cursor/plugins --skill principle-attack-the-premise- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads principle-attack-the-premise automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Attack the Premise
When two or more fixes that share one premise have failed the same gate, suspect the premise, not the fixes.
Why: Each failed fix is evidence against the belief it assumed. A third fix on the same premise spends effort where the evidence already says the cause is not.
Pattern:
- Write the premise down. The premise is the one sentence that every failed fix assumed.
- Test the premise before the next fix. Find an observation that would come out differently if the premise were false, and make it. Look at how the failures are distributed, not only at how large they are. Make the check rerunnable per Build the Lever.
- Follow the evidence. If it contradicts the premise, the cause is elsewhere. Look for what the failures have in common that the premise did not predict. If it confirms the premise, ask the next "why" per Fix Root Causes. The earlier fixes may have treated a consequence instead of the cause.
- Remove the condition instead of compensating for it, per the Laziness Protocol. If the evidence shows that one part always lands on the losing side, change what puts it there. A mechanism that cleans up after it leaves the cause in place and adds work on every run.
Stop: Do not start the next fix before the premise is written down and tested.
This principle is distinct from Redesign from First Principles, which rebuilds a design around a new requirement. It questions a fact the current design assumes.
FAQ
What does the principle-attack-the-premise skill do?
Apply when two or more fixes that share one premise have failed the same gate. Write the premise down and test it directly before you write another fix that assumes it.
How do I install principle-attack-the-premise?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/cursor/plugins --skill principle-attack-the-premise in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/principle-attack-the-premise/ (personal) or .claude/skills/principle-attack-the-premise/ (project).
Which AI agents can use principle-attack-the-premise?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is principle-attack-the-premise safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains principle-attack-the-premise?
It is published by cursor in cursor/plugins. It has 2,045 recorded installs.
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