Definitionv1
Agent inheritance: the design strategy where new cognitive
Agent inheritance: the design strategy where new cognitive agents acquire properties, patterns, and proven components from existing successful agents rather than being built from scratch, with selective extraction of reusable elements to avoid fragile coupling and enable faster establishment with reduced experimental risk
Why This Is a Definition
This definition establishes the precise semantic boundary of 'agent inheritance' by identifying its genus (design strategy) and differentia (acquiring properties from existing agents rather than building from scratch). It distinguishes inheritance from composition, specifies the selective nature of the process, and explains the benefits and risks involved. The definition is self-contained and uses language consistent with the curriculum's terminology about agents, patterns, and cognitive infrastructure.