Definitionv1DF-319
Cognitive debt
the compound cost of unresolved contradictions that accumulate over time, manifesting as increased decision fatigue, organizational friction, and system inefficiency, with interest compounding through repeated activation and migration to new domains
Why This Is a Definition
This definition establishes the precise semantic boundary of 'cognitive debt' by identifying its genus (compound cost), differentia (from unresolved contradictions), and operational characteristics (accumulation through activation and migration). It uses the software engineering metaphor to precisely define how this debt functions in cognitive systems.