Orthogonal-Complete Analysis: A Meta-Methodology for Decomposing Complex Problems

Orthogonal-Complete Analysis (OCA) is introduced as a general-purpose meta-methodology designed to structure philosophical reasoning about complex, multidimensional problems. The method identifies the minimal set of mutually independent (orthogonal) dimensions that jointly form a sufficient (complete) basis for analysis. OCA provides structural clarity, prevents dimensional overlap, and unifies diverse philosophical approaches under a single analytic scaffold. After defining OCA and its formal properties, the paper demonstrates its utility through applications in political philosophy, natural law theory, and epistemology. OCA is shown to complement existing methodologies—such as Rawlsian framework construction, Lewisian modal analysis, Bayesian epistemology, and scientific modeling—by supplying a pre-formal decomposition procedure that enhances rigor and transparency. The conclusion argues that OCA offers a principled strategy for dealing with increasingly complex philosophical problems in the contemporary era.