Threesology Research Journal

Threesology Research Journal List of Philosophers and Philosophies:

Philosophers as of Aug. 8, 2025

The following (handful) groups of examples are lists of Philosophers and Philosophies involving a "threes" theme, with different internet queries. I just took a few moments to make a very short list.

Internet general Query: "Philosophy of threes":

AI response as an Overview:

The "philosophy of threes" generally refers to the recurring theme of the number three appearing in various philosophical contexts, both ancient and modern. This can range from the concept of triads in creation and thought to the practical application of patterns of three in communication and design. Here's a breakdown of some key areas where the "philosophy of threes" manifests:

The Law of Three:
- This law, often associated with esoteric philosophies, suggests that all creation and events involve three forces: an active force, a passive force, and a neutral force that mediates between them.
- These forces are essential for any phenomenon to materialize.
- A simple example is a romantic pursuit where a person's attraction (active), the other person's disinterest (passive), and the individual's effort to improve themselves (neutral) lead to a relationship.
The Rule of Three:
- This is a principle of rhetoric and writing that uses patterns of three to create emphasis, humor, or memorability.
- Examples include "blood, sweat, and tears" or "government of the people, by the people, for the people".
- It's a common technique in literature, speeches, and even everyday language.
- The Rule of Three is also seen in various arts and design principles, such as the rule of thirds in photography.
Three Teachings (Chinese Philosophy):
- In Chinese philosophy, "three teachings" refers to Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, often seen as a harmonious aggregate within Chinese culture.
- These traditions are not necessarily viewed as mutually exclusive but rather as complementary aspects of a broader worldview.
Ancient Greek Philosophers:
- The "big three" ancient Greek philosophers – Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle – are often grouped together, with Plato studying under Socrates and Aristotle studying under Plato.
- Their ideas continue to influence philosophical thought today.
- Aristotle also explored the concept of friendship, categorizing it into three types: friendship of utility, friendship of pleasure, and friendship of virtue, according to Philosophy Break.
The Three Ports of Ancient Philosophy:
- A framework for finding the good life can be found by considering three areas: pleasure (hedonism), virtue, and doubt (skepticism).
- These areas are not mutually exclusive and can be drawn upon to create a personalized philosophy, according to Big Think.
LifeRing Secular Recovery's "3-S" Philosophy:
- LifeRing Secular Recovery uses the "3-S" philosophy: Sobriety (abstinence from alcohol and drugs), Secularity (not religion-based), and Self-empowerment (individual responsibility for recovery).

Internet Query: "Philosophers who used threes:

AI response: Philosophers who utilize groups of three concepts:

Many philosophers, throughout history and across diverse traditions, have employed frameworks involving three interconnected concepts to explain various aspects of reality, knowledge, and existence. Here are some notable examples:

Ancient Greek Philosophers:
- Plato: Proposed a tripartite theory of the soul, consisting of reason (logistikon), spirit (thymoeides), and appetite (epithumetikon). This theory also found parallels in his ideal society, with philosophers (representing reason), warriors (representing spirit), and producers (representing appetite).
- Aristotle: Distinguishes three kinds of souls – the nutritive (plants), sensitive (animals), and rational (humans) – representing different levels of life functions. He also employed triads in other areas, such as the three modes of persuasion in rhetoric: ethos, pathos, and logos.
- Immanuel Kant: His philosophical system is structured around three critiques:
  - Critique of Pure Reason (metaphysics and epistemology).
  - Critique of Practical Reason (ethics and moral philosophy).
  - Critique of Judgment (aesthetics and teleology).
- He also uses groups of three within these critiques, such as his three faculties of the soul (knowledge, pleasure/displeasure, desire) and three categories of quantity (unity, plurality, totality).
G.W.F. Hegel: Famous for his dialectical method, often described as a triadic process of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis, reflecting the progression of ideas, history, and consciousness.
Charles Sanders Peirce: Developed a system of three philosophical categories – firstness, secondness, and thirdness – to understand phenomena and the process of semiosis (sign functioning). Each category has distinct characteristics: firstness representing possibility and feeling, secondness representing actuality and experience, and thirdness representing mediation and rules.

Other philosophers who have explored triadic structures in various contexts include:

Plotinus: His three principles: the One, Nous (mind/intellect), and Psyche (soul).
Gottlob Frege: Proposed three realms of sense: the external physical, the internal mental, and the objective Platonic realm of ideal "senses".
Karl Popper: Presented three worlds: the physical world, the subjective human experience, and the world of culture and objective knowledge.
Sigmund Freud: Developed a structural model of the psyche with three components: the Id, the Ego, and the Super-Ego.

Significance of triads in philosophy

The prevalence of triadic structures in philosophy suggests a recurring pattern in how humans attempt to understand complex phenomena. Three-part frameworks can offer a balanced approach, moving beyond simple dichotomies and allowing for the exploration of mediating forces or syntheses between opposing elements.
The concept of "three" can represent completion, balance, evolution, and different levels of reality or experience.

By using the internet query "3 famous philosophers from each country".

Please note that there was no specific request about any country. The AI response in this respect was inaccurate:

AI response: "Notable philosophers from various countries"; Here are three famous philosophers from each of the countries requested. It's own programming asked for the following specificites:

Greece (SPA) {Socrates taught Plato who taught Aristotle who taught Alexander the Great}
- Socrates: Known for his questioning approach to knowledge and ethics, famously stating, "The unexamined life is not worth living."
- Plato: Student of Socrates, known for his theory of Forms and his work on political philosophy in The Republic.
- Aristotle: Student of Plato, influential in diverse fields like ethics, logic, physics, and biology, developed the concept of the Golden Mean.
  - His belief in and writings on Spontaneous Generation were highly influential... though quite wrong for multiple centuries.
Germany (KHN)
- Immanuel Kant: Known for his Critique of Pure Reason, exploring the limits of human knowledge and emphasizing reason's role.
  - He wrote 3 Critiques: Critique of Pure Reason, Critique of Practical Reason, Critique of Judgement.
- Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel: Developed a complex system of thought known as German Idealism, impacting fields from politics to aesthetics.
  - Hegel's 3 major works:
    1. Phenomenology of Spirit (1807): This book traces the development of consciousness from its most basic forms to absolute knowledge, using a dialectical approach to reveal how consciousness experiences and understands itself and the world.
    2. Science of Logic (1812, 1816): This work lays out Hegel's system of logic, exploring the fundamental categories of thought and their interrelationships. It is divided into two parts: the first on objective logic and the second on subjective logic.
    3. Elements of the Philosophy of Right (1821): This book applies Hegel's philosophical system to the realm of ethics, law, and politics, outlining his views on the state, civil society, and individual rights.
- Friedrich Nietzsche: Challenged traditional morality and questioned the meaning of existence, famous for the concept of the Übermensch.
  - The Best Works of Friedrich Nietzsche (Set of 3 books); Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Beyond Good and Evil & The Birth of tragedy.
France (DRF)
- René Descartes: Considered the father of modern philosophy, famously articulated "Cogito ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am").
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Influential Enlightenment thinker, known for his work on political theory, including The Social Contract.
- Michel Foucault: Explored the relationship between power and knowledge, examining social institutions and their role in shaping individuals.
United Kingdom (LHR)
- John Locke: British empiricist, argued that all knowledge comes from experience, influential in political philosophy and the concept of natural rights.
- David Hume: Scottish philosopher and empiricist, raised profound questions about causality, induction, and personal identity.
- Bertrand Russell: Known for work in logic and analytic philosophy, co-authored Principia Mathematica and was a prominent social activist.
Italy (MVG)
- Niccolò Machiavelli: A Renaissance figure, considered a founder of modern political science with works like The Prince.
- Giambattista Vico: Founder of modern Italian philosophy, critiqued rationalism and laid the groundwork for social sciences and semiotics.
- Antonio Gramsci: Influential Marxist thinker, developed the theory of cultural hegemony, emphasizing the role of ideology in maintaining power structures.
China (LCZ)
Laozi: Illusive founder of Taoism and author of the Tao Te Ching, emphasizing harmony with nature and living in accordance with the "Way".
- Confucius: Chinese teacher and philosopher, advocated for social harmony, ethical conduct, and respect for tradition, whose teachings are central to Confucianism.
- Zhuangzi: Daoist philosopher, known for his skeptical and mystical approach, influential in the development of Daoist thought.
India (KSV)
- Kapila: Founder of the Samkhya school of Hindu philosophy, a rationalist tradition that explored the nature of matter, consciousness, and evolution.
- Adi Shankaracharya: Hindu philosopher and theologian, consolidated the Advaita Vedanta philosophy, emphasizing the unity of the individual soul (Atman) with ultimate reality (Brahman).
- Swami Vivekananda: Influential figure in modern Hindu thought, promoted Vedanta philosophy in the West and emphasized service and social action.
Russia (SBB)
- Vladimir Solovyov: Attempted a synthesis of religion, science, and ethics, creating a comprehensive system of Russian philosophy.
- Mikhail Bakhtin: Russian literary theorist, philosopher, and critic, known for his concept of dialogism and its exploration of diverse voices in literature and culture.
- Nikolai Berdyaev: Religious thinker and existential philosopher, focusing on freedom, creativity, and the spiritual destiny of humanity.
Arab world (KFA)
- Al-Kindi: Considered the first major philosopher in the Islamic tradition, introduced Hellenistic thought to the Muslim world and explored concepts of unity and multiplicity.
- Al-Farabi: Attempted to reconcile the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle, extending logical analysis to fields like jurisprudence and theology.
- Ibn Sina (Avicenna): Influential philosopher and physician, known for his distinction between existence and essence, impacting scholasticism in both the Muslim and Christian worlds.

3 Dominant ONE-GOD religious philosophies: Christianity, Islam, Judasim.
3 Dominant and influential philosophies in Asia are Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism.
3 of the most Dominant and influential Asian philosophers are Confucius, Laozi (or Lao Tzu), and Mencius.

Internet Query: "Who are the 3 dominant female philosophers of History?"

AI reply: Several female philosophers have made significant contributions throughout history, challenging traditional norms and shaping philosophical discourse. Here are three dominant female philosophers who have left a lasting impact:

Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797): A pioneering advocate for women's rights and education, her seminal work, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), challenged the societal belief that women are naturally inferior to men. Instead, she argued that women appeared to be less capable only because they lacked access to education. Wollstonecraft's ideas laid the foundation for modern feminist philosophy and continue to inspire movements for gender equality.
Hannah Arendt (1906-1975): A German-American political theorist, Arendt's work explored the nature of power, totalitarianism, and the human condition. Her key works like The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951) and The Human Condition (1958) remain influential in political philosophy, analyzing the rise of oppressive regimes and the importance of civic engagement.
Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986): A French writer and existentialist philosopher, de Beauvoir's contributions were foundational for feminist existentialism and feminist theory. Her most famous work, The Second Sex (1949), analyzes the societal oppression of women and emphasizes the idea that "one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman," highlighting the constructed nature of gender roles.

These three women are widely recognized as some of the most influential female philosophers, whose ideas continue to resonate and shape discussions in various fields.

3 Incredible Female Philosophers Who Changed the World

Hypatia of Alexandria: The Martyr of Philosophy
- Hypatia was estimated to be born sometime around 350 AD in Alexandria.
- She went on to become the head of the university in Alexandria— teaching mathematics, astronomy, and more. Hypatia was considered a Neoplatonist and believed that mathematics had a very spiritual aspect to it. She saw numbers as being somewhat of a language the universe spoke in, and that to further understand our human nature, we must look at mathematics in a different light.
- Hypatia also refined many scientific and mathematical tools, wrote mathematics textbooks, and was looked up to because of her general knowledge and writing style. She played musical instruments, spoke of the magic in science and the stars, and carried herself in a way that was “unnatural” for women at that time. She never married and she remained celibate, devoting her life to learning and teaching.
- Ignorance prevailed even further, and Hypatia was killed by a violent Christian mob while returning home from the university. She was dragged into a church, stripped naked, and was asked to kiss the cross to repent her sins and beg for forgiveness. Her skin was then scrapped off to the bone by oyster shells and the Christian mob proceeded to dismember her body. What was left of Hypatia was thrown into the fire. The Archbishop then ordered the University to be burned down, which also started a mass exodus of the city’s local intellectuals.
Tullia d’Aragona: The Love Expert
- Tullia d’Aragona was born in Rome, Italy sometime during the early 1500s. She spent the majority of her life traveling around Italy, devoting her time to experiencing life and love to the fullest degree. When she turned 18, she started her career as a courtesan – otherwise known as a prostitute who specifically has upper-class clients with a high rank in society.
- In Dialogue on the Infinity of Love, Tullia argues that a relationship between a man and a woman must spiritually and sensually satisfy both parties in order to be considered mutually beneficial. Social ranking and financial support were simply not enough for a man to offer. This was bold to say coming from a woman at this time because she was quite fortunate enough to be detached from any man both romantically and financially.
- ...Often women were not as fortunate, as years of oppression led them to become idle in unhealthy relationships just to ensure financial comfort. Tullia was one of the first to break this silence and declare relationships to be one-sided. The only way the relationship was not “one-sided” was, again, if both the man and woman could satisfy each other’s "sensual and spiritual needs".
bell hooks: The Empathetic Activist
- Her name was Gloria Jean Watkins, and she was born in 1952 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
- Her first book was a collection of poetry called “And There We Wept”, published in 1978. And then in 1981, her book “Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism” was published, where she publically challenged the current climate of feminism and argued that the movement left out women of color.
- Bell also went on to teach English, ethnic studies, African-American studies, and women’s studies at various universities across America. In 2004, she finally settled down as a professor at Berea College in Berea, Kentucky.

Internet query "3 most influential Asian female philosophers"

AI response: The contributions of women philosophers throughout history, particularly in non-Western traditions like those in Asia, have often been overlooked or marginalized. However, research into the philosophical traditions of Asia reveals several prominent and influential female thinkers. Here are three examples of influential Asian female philosophers:

Ban Zhao (c. 45–120 CE): A renowned Chinese philosopher, historian, and politician during the Han dynasty. She is recognized as one of the first female historians globally and completed a history of the Han dynasty started by her brother. Her work, Lessons for Women (Nüjie), was a significant text focusing on women's education, moral obligations, and proper conduct, and it was widely studied until the 20th century.
Gargi Vachaknavi (7th century BCE): An Indian philosopher and debater during the Vedic period featured in the B?hadara?yaka Upani?had. She engaged in philosophical debates with the sage Yajnavalkya, asking questions about the fundamental nature of the universe. Gargi is highlighted as one of the many "hidden figures" of women in the history of philosophy from the Global South.
Im Yunjidang (1721-1793): A notable Korean Confucian philosopher during the late Joseon Dynasty, according to Duke Asian & Middle Eastern Studies. Along with Gang Jeongildang, she argued for the moral and spiritual equality of women and men based on core principles of neo-Confucian philosophy. She is sometimes compared to Mary Wollstonecraft for her arguments concerning female equality. While her work has not yet been fully translated into English, she is considered a groundbreaking figure in Korean women's philosophy.

3 patterned philosophical distinctions:

St. Augustine's Philosophy:	Memory ~ Understanding ~ Will
Comte's Philosophy:	Great Being ~ Great Medium ~ Great Fetish
Hegel's 3 Spirits:	Subjective Spirit ~ 0bjective Spirit ~ Absolute Spirit
Plotinu's Philosophy:	One ~ One Many ~ One and Many
Aristotle's 3 Unities:	Unity of Action ~ Unity of Time ~ Unity of Place
Sir F. Bacon's 3 Tables:	Presence ~ Absence ~ Degree
Thomas Hobbes's 3 Fields:	Physics ~ Moral Philosophy ~ Civil Philosophy
Immanuel Kant's 3 Critiques:	Pure Reason ~ Practical Reason ~ Judgment
Averroes's 3 Commentaries:	Little ~ Middle ~ Great
Karl Marx's 3 isms:	Communism ~ Socialism ~ Capitalism
Woodrow Wilson's 3 isms:	Colonialism ~ Racism ~ Anti-Communism
Hippocrates's Mind Disorders:	Mania ~ Melancholia ~ Phrenitis
Emile Durkeim's 3 Suicides:	Egoistic ~ Altruistic ~ Anomic
D. Liesman's 3 Social Characters:	Tradition-directed ~ Inner-directed ~ Other-directed
Erich Fromm's 3 Symbols:	The Conventional ~ The Accidental ~ The Universal
Pythagoras's "fusion" idea:	Monarchy ~ Oligarchy ~ Democracy (into harmonic whole)
M.L. King Jr.'s "Middle Road":	Acquiescence ~ Nonviolence ~ Violence
Kierkegaard's 3 Stages:	Aesthetic ~ Ethical ~ Religious
Husserl's 3 Reductions:	Phenomenological ~ Eidetic ~ Religious
St. Augustine's 3 Laws:	Divine Law ~ Natural Law ~ Temporal, or positive Law
Witness Stand "Laws":	Tell the Truth ~ The whole Truth ~ Nothing but the Truth
Titus Carus's 3 Ages:	Stone Age ~ Bronze Age ~ Iron Age
Feuerbach's 3 Thoughts:	God, 1st Thought ~ Reason, 2nd ~ Man, 3rd
Magnus's 3 Universals:	Ante Rem ~ In Rem ~ Post Rem
Max Weber's 3 Authorities:	Traditional ~ Charismatic ~ Legal-rational
F. de Sausure's 3 "Signs":	Sign ~ Signified ~ Signifier
Charles Pierces 3 "Signs":	Qualisign ~ Sinsign (token) ~ Legisign
John Keynes's 3 Eras:	Scarcity ~ Abundance ~ Stabilization
George Mead's 3 Distinctions:	Self ~ I ~ Me
Thrasher's 3-group Gangs:	Inner Circle ~ Rank & File ~ Fringers
Abe Lincoln's 3-For-All:	Of the People ~ By the People ~ For the People
Jesus Christ's 3 Praises:	In the name of the Father ~ Son ~ Holy Spirit
Samuel Clemmons' 3 lies: (Mark Twain)	Lies ~ Damned Lies ~ Statistics

3-part Logic Thesis ~ Antithesis ~ Synthesis Indulgence ~ "Middle Way" ~ Ascetism Major Premise ~ Minor Premise ~ Conclusion Contradiction ~ Excluded Middle ~ Identity Principal
"God-ology": Omnipresent Omnipotent Omniscient	"Metaphysics-ology": What is real How change comes What is mind	Marxian "Dialectology": Unity of opposites Quantity & quality Negation of negation
Epistemology: How we know What is truth What is mind	Axiology: Nature of good Nature of beautiful Nature of religious	Ontology: Quality (1st-ness) Relation (2nd-ness) Representation (3rd-ness)

3 times the fool: You can fool some people some of the time - Some people all the time - But not all people all the time.
3 traditional syllogism forms: Categorical - Hypothetical - Disjunctive
3-patterned basic adult syllogism: All ravens are black - Jack is a raven - Therefore, Jack is black.
3-patterned basic child syllogism: Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear - Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair - Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't fuzzy was he?

Note: I frequently reference "syllogisms" as "sillygisms" because they're so silly.

Source for the above examples: BTR column 5

There are numerous three-patterned ideas which should be taken account of as part of an overall appreciation of human cognition. It matters not what type of or how much importance is placed on one or another idea, the underlying pattern belongs to the pattern of thought processing which makes up all of human philosophy. While some will venture to make a list of two-patterned ideas to provide as an example of different binary structures having been used because the application to computers give them the encouragement and confidence their effort will not be unduly criticized; they might not readily do so when asked to create a three-patterned list. When a person's only encouragement comes from religion or some superstition-based model of "three" usage, many no doubt would shy away from such an effort for fear they might be viewed in a manner commensurate with a "guilty by association" frame of mind. This might not be the case if computers used a trinary code. The commercial and multiplicity of application creates an enhanced aura of truth in the social sphere.

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