Relevance vs Truth

Two different reasons a memory stops mattering. A belief becomes false when something supersedes it. A memory becomes irrelevant when nothing has needed it for a long time — while remaining perfectly true.

Why it matters in a memory layer

Confusing them produces both classic failures. Treat fading as falsification and the system retires facts nobody contradicted; treat falsification as fading and stale beliefs linger because they are recent. They also decay at different rates by type: an episode is over the moment it happens and recedes steadily, while a standing belief is current until superseded and should barely fade at all. Supersession handles the first; decay handles the second.

Connections

Taught in: Why Forgetting Is a Feature

Used in: Ordering and Formatting · Salience Scoring

Do not confuse with: Belief Updating