Principlev1

Select granularity based on the questions your system needs

Select granularity based on the questions your system needs to answer rather than seeking an inherent correct level of detail.

Why This Is a Principle

This derives from Goals as Perceptual Filters (goals as perceptual filters), Abstraction Necessarily Discards Information (abstraction discards information), and Categories Are Human Constructions (categories constructed for purposes). The principle prescribes how to choose granularity given that categories are purpose-built and goals determine relevance. It's actionable (name purpose first, then choose grain) and general enough to apply across domains.

Source Lessons

L-0031

Granularity is a choice not a discovery

You choose how finely to decompose based on your purpose — not on some inherent "correct" level of detail. The same material supports different grain sizes for different uses.

Connections

Derived From (3)

AxiomGoals as Perceptual Filters AxiomAbstraction Necessarily Discards Information AxiomCategories Are Human Constructions

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