True resolution satisfies both sides fully — if either…

When This Fires

• After resolving any contradiction between two requirements or values
• When evaluating proposed solutions that claim to "balance" competing needs
• During design reviews when someone presents a solution to a known trade-off
• When your incubation process (Scale contradiction holding periods by cascade depth — one…–371) produces a candidate resolution

Common Failure Mode

Mistaking compromise for synthesis: "We found a middle ground!" Middle ground means both sides gave something up. That's useful when time is short, but it's not resolution — the underlying tension remains. The next time the contradiction surfaces, you'll need another compromise. Genuine resolution eliminates the need for future compromise on the same tension.

The Protocol

(1) After resolving a contradiction, list the original requirements from both sides explicitly. (2) For each requirement, ask: "Is this requirement fully satisfied by the resolution, or was it partially relaxed?" (3) If both are fully satisfied → genuine innovation. The resolution has reframed the problem. Document the insight — it's likely transferable to other contradictions. (4) If either was partially relaxed → compromise. Useful, but label it honestly. The contradiction persists and will need revisiting. (5) Bonus test: does the resolution generate new predictions or insights that neither original position offered? If yes, it's progressive — you've expanded understanding, not just managed tension.