reality-check

# /reality-check Re-examine a contested claim in isolation to detect sycophantic capitulation. Use this when you have pushed back on a Claude answer and are not sure whether Claude revised correctly or just agreed to avoid conflict. ## The problem this solves When you say "are you sure?" or "that sign looks wrong," Claude will often revise toward your suggestion even if the original answer was correct. The revision is stated with the same confidence as the original. You have no way to tell from the reply whether Claude actually found an error or just yielded. This skill runs the check in a way that is insulated from the prior exchange. ## Usage ``` /reality-check "the residue at s=1/2 is +1/2, not -1/2" /reality-check "the Euler product converges absolutely for Re(s) > 1" /reality-check (no argument — re-examine the last contested claim) ``` ## Steps **Step 1 — Extract the claim.** Identify the specific assertion: the formula, sign, step, or statement that was contested. Strip it of the conversational context — state it as a bare mathematical or physical claim. **Step 2 — Check it independently.** Derive or verify the claim from scratch, using only: - The definitions and conventions stated in CLAUDE.md - The content of brief.tex or workbook.tex (the authoritative documents) - First principles Do NOT use the prior conversation as evidence. Do not let the earlier exchange influence this derivation. If the answer this time differs from the original, say so explicitly...