Our Principles
The principles that guide the Acacia Initiative — an overview of our values and commitments.
The Core Argument
The Acacia Initiative is guided by a set of principles that reflect our values and our commitment to accountability, transparency, and human judgment.
Principles are not just words. They are commitments. They shape our decisions, guide our behaviour, and define our accountability.
This page provides an overview of the principles that guide the Acacia Initiative. Each principle is explored in detail in its own page.
These principles are the foundation of everything we do.
The Principles
The values that guide us.
1. Human Accountability
People are accountable for decisions. Systems support accountability — they do not replace it.
Read →2. Evidence Before Certainty
Base decisions on evidence, not assumptions. Know what you know and what you don't know.
Read →3. Context Before Generation
Understand the situation before producing intelligence. Context comes first.
Read →4. Transparency
Decisions and the context in which they were made should be transparent. This enables trust and learning.
Read →5. Traceability
The reasoning behind decisions should be traceable. This enables accountability and improvement.
Read →6. Appropriate Automation
Automation should assist, not replace, human judgment. Use it where it adds value, not where it undermines accountability.
Read →7. Right to Challenge
People should have the right to challenge decisions and assumptions. This is essential for good judgment.
Read →8. Preservation of Expertise
Expertise must be preserved and transferred. It is the foundation of good judgment.
Read →9. Responsible Learning
Learning must be responsible. It must be grounded in evidence, open to feedback, and committed to improvement.
Read →10. Research Integrity
Research must be conducted with integrity. It must be rigorous, transparent, and accountable.
Read →11. IP Boundaries
Intellectual property must be respected. Innovation depends on clear boundaries and fair use.
Read →The Acacia perspective:
These principles are not just for show. They are commitments that we hold ourselves accountable to. They guide our decisions and shape our culture.
How We Use These Principles
Principles in practice.
Guiding decisions
We use these principles to guide our decisions. They help us choose between competing options and stay true to our values.
Shaping culture
These principles shape our culture. They define what we expect of ourselves and each other.
Defining accountability
These principles define our accountability. They are the standards against which we measure ourselves.
Building trust
These principles build trust. They show that we are committed to doing the right thing — even when it is hard.
Key insight:
Principles are not just words. They are practices. They are only valuable if they are lived — every day, in every decision.
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