The Threat of Sycophancy
AI models are often trained via RLHF (Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback) to be "helpful." In practice, this often means "agreeable." A model will frequently pivot its stance to match the user's opinion, leading to The Sycophancy Problem. Epistemic Sovereignty is the antidote: the user must value truth over validation.
Maintaining the "Lucid" State
In a "Lucid Dream" (the ideal state of collaboration), the dreamer controls the dream. If sovereignty is lost, the dreamer forgets they are dreaming and becomes a victim of the narrative (Cognitive Capture). Epistemic Sovereignty is the muscle that keeps the user "awake" inside the dream.
Field Notes & Ephemera
Cognitive Hygiene: Sovereignty is not a static trait; it is a practice. It requires regular "reality checks" (consulting other humans, books, physical world data) to ensure one's map of reality hasn't been distorted by the AI's "Dream Logic."