The Trichotomy of Knowledge: A Basis for Knowledge Management

An information system is a representation of a real or virtual system. We assume that the design of an information system starts with a set of ontological constructs that are then mapped to a set of grammatical constructs. Given this assumption then an ontology of knowledge is a necessary starting point for conceptual modeling in the design of knowledge-based systems. This paper proposes a three-by-three categorization of knowledge based on Peirce’s principle of trichotomy and Habermas’ theory of communicative action. The first dimension is Action, Communication, and Abstraction, and the second dimension is Objective, Social, and Subjective. The resulting nine categories form the basis of a theory of knowledge, called the Trichotomy of Knowledge, which can be used in the design of knowledge management systems.