The trilemma communication device

The trilemma communication device

The trilemma, a choice where you have to pick 2 out of 3 properties, appears often - and more than an intrinsic characteristic of social or productive systems, it’s a useful communication device. Specifically, it’s a more nuanced trade-off representation than the dichotomy.

Dichotomy as a comms device is common: do you want to be ‘good’ or ‘right’. Dichotomies are often either false in contradiction or false in antinomy. Rarely are two propositions diametrically opposed, and it’s especially rare to have two propositions of interest, be orthogonal and be descriptive of a trade-off.

Hence, another basis vector is needed.

This is the role of the trilemma: quality, speed, or low cost - you can have only two.