What question did this study set out to answer?

To introduce the Triadic Failure Principle as a model for understanding system breakdown.

March 22, 2026Open Access

The Triadic Failure Principle: A Structural Account of System Breakdown Under Missing Components

Key Points

To introduce the Triadic Failure Principle as a model for understanding system breakdown.
Introduced a framework for system validity based on the Triadic Completion Principle.
Defined key components of a system: potential, anchor, and structure.
Established a diagnostic model for predicting failure modes.
Identified distinct failure modes for each missing irreducible component.
Provided a domain-neutral diagnostic approach for system breakdown.
Contributed to the understanding of structural accounts in system failures.

Abstract

Following the Triadic Completion Principle, which defines the minimal condition for system validity, this paper introduces the Triadic Failure Principle. A system fails structurally when any one of the three irreducible components—potential (♾️), anchor (●), or structure (■)—is absent. Each missing component produces a distinct and predictable failure mode. This framework provides a minimal, domain-neutral diagnostic model for system breakdown, operating prior to modelling, explanation, or optimisation.

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Andrew John Paton

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The Triadic Failure Principle: A Structural Account of System Breakdown Under Missing Components

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Abstract

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