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Read a Stanford Encyclopedia entry

get_sep_entry

Fetch the full text of any Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry using its slug, path, or URL, with adjustable character limit.

Instructions

Fetch the text of a SEP entry. Accepts a slug (e.g. 'hegel'), a /entries/.. path, or a full URL. Truncated to max_chars.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
entryYesEntry slug, /entries/.. path, or full URL.
max_charsNoCharacters to return.
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations provided, so description carries full burden. It mentions truncation but omits important details like error handling for missing entries, authentication needs, or whether it is read-only.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Two concise sentences, front-loaded with purpose, followed by input format details and truncation. No wasted words.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness3/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Simple tool with 2 params, but missing behavioral context like return format or error handling. Adequate for minimal needs but incomplete without annotations.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 100% and description does not add meaning beyond the schema's parameter descriptions. Baseline of 3 is appropriate.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the tool fetches text of a SEP entry, using specific verbs and resource. It distinguishes from siblings like search_sep by focusing on retrieval, not search, and specifies acceptable input formats.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

No guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives like fetch_text or get_fulltext. The description only lists input formats, not context or exclusions.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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