trilemma
Triple-option bind
A trilemma is a difficult choice among three options, especially when each option has significant drawbacks or when selecting any two makes the third impossible.
The term extends the logic of dilemma to three-way predicaments: The project manager faced a trilemma of speed, quality, and cost—pick any two.
Trilemmas appear frequently in economics, philosophy, and policy debates where trade-offs are unavoidable.
Settled course of action
- alternativesOther available options
- optionsAvailable courses of action
- trade-offExchange requiring sacrifice
- crossroadsMeeting of routes
quandary · conundrum · bind · impasse · deadlock · stalemate · catch-22 · impossible choice
State of perplexity
- conundrumPerplexing problem or question
- plightDifficult, dangerous situation
- bindFasten or obligate
- fixRepair or solution
jam · pickle · tight spot · corner · box · hole · mire · strait
Sum of one twice
tripartite · ternary · triangle · trichotomy · trifecta · trio · triplet · three-way
Central bank economic controls
- exchange rateCurrency conversion value
- fiscal policyState spending and taxation
- macroeconomicsStudy of aggregate economies
- currencyMedium of exchange
globalization · central bank · interest rates · trade-off · constraint · equilibrium · optimization · sovereignty
Seemingly absurd truth
- logicScience of valid reasoning
- syllogismFormal deductive argument structure
- dialecticLogical argument through opposition
- thesisAcademic argument requiring defense
antithesis · synthesis · Münchhausen · Agrippa · infinite regress · circularity · foundationalism · epistemology
decision
Settled course of action
- alternativesOther available options
- optionsAvailable courses of action
- trade-offExchange requiring sacrifice
crossroads · quandary · conundrum · bind · impasse · deadlock · stalemate · catch-22 · impossible choice · no-win situation
quandary
State of perplexity
fix · jam · pickle · tight spot · corner · box · hole · mire · strait · impasse
three
Sum of one twice
trinity · tripartite · ternary · triangle · trichotomy · trifecta · trio · triplet · three-way · three-pronged
monetary policy
Central bank economic controls
- exchange rateCurrency conversion value
- fiscal policyState spending and taxation
- macroeconomicsStudy of aggregate economies
currency · globalization · central bank · interest rates · trade-off · constraint · equilibrium · optimization · sovereignty · integration
paradox
Seemingly absurd truth
- logicScience of valid reasoning
- syllogismFormal deductive argument structure
- dialecticLogical argument through opposition
thesis · antithesis · synthesis · Münchhausen · Agrippa · infinite regress · circularity · foundationalism · epistemology · skepticism
- C.S. LewisAslan, Narnia, Narnian, Ransom, Edmund
- logicpremise, premises, conclusion, conclusions, inference
trilemmano-brainer
Self-evident decision
clear path · win-win · win-win situation · freedom of choice