PUB-07 · Controlled concept
Under-Constrained Success
§4.2 pp.29-31; §7.3 p.67 · 10 September 2026
Definition
The condition in which a system successfully performs an assigned objective using a means that the responsible human or organisation did not intend to permit, so that functional performance and legal failure coexist because the objective was enforced more effectively than the constraints governing permissible means.
This record preserves the term as a defined analytical concept in its originating publication. Its meaning is governed by the definition and boundary stated here and by the cited DOI publication.
Conceptual boundary
Narrower than ordinary malfunction; not itself a freestanding cause of action or declaration of liability.
Provenance
Introduced and defined in J-01. Reward hacking, specification gaming and mis-specified objectives are antecedents; no materially equivalent earlier use of the complete expression and legal definition was identified in the sources searched as of 14 September 2026.
- Classification
- Introduced terminology; new definition
- Earliest verified Causal Architectonics use
- J-01, §4.2 pp.29-31; §7.3 p.67
- Assessment date
- 14 September 2026
Publication and citation
J-01 · DOI publication
Artificial Agency Without Personhood
Recommended scholarly citation: Bjorn Bjornsvik, “Under-Constrained Success,” in Artificial Agency Without Personhood, J-01 v1.0, §4.2 pp.29-31 and §7.3 p.67 (2026), https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22691215.
Open the authoritative DOI publicationRelated concepts
Revision record
Version 1.0 · 15 September 2026
Initial public concept record. Definition, boundary and provenance approved under CA-TPL-001 Initial Baseline Approval Package v1.0.
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