STREAM: principles as hierarchy, not a flat list

The key difference between STREAM and typical principle collections: it’s not a flat list but a 6-layer hierarchy where each layer builds on the previous one.

Scope (epistemic) → Time (temporal) → Route (action) → Exposure (stakes) → Audience (social) → Meaning (meta).

You can’t discuss stakes (layer 4) without first addressing epistemics (layer 1). You can’t think about reputation (layer 5) without evaluating the time horizon (layer 2). The hierarchy enforces analysis order — foundations first, derivatives second.

Programming metaphor: STREAM layers are a dependency graph. Upper layers import from lower ones, never the reverse. Violating the order = circular dependency in thinking.

This maps directly to decision-framework-5-steps, which walks through the layers sequentially. And antifragile-life-design applies this hierarchy to specific life domains.