Problem Investigators as of May 6th, 2025
Every generation apparently speaks of the potential of acquiring a higher consciousness, though the terminology varies from time to time and place to place. Sometimes it may be called transcendental meditation (as a means of reaching a supposed higher plane/dimension of consciousness or Elightenment). At other times it may be referenced as a subtle energy directed emergence, another plane of existence, a spirit world, the dream time, a way station, phenomenology, oneness with a spirit, an ethereal realm of consciousness, hyper-vigilence, super-sanity, mind's eye realization, third eye conceptualization, etc... And very often, it involves some orientation of "three" that in primitive societies was described sometimes as multiplicity (or heap, pile, bunch...) which we of the present era have seen in such ideas as multiple dimensions, multiple intelligences, many minds, multiplicity of inclusiveness, melting pot cultures, E Pluribus Unum (out of many, one), etc... And very often we have seen the representation of "three" as an elitist perception such as the triads of ancient Egypt and mythological figures with super-natural powers which are projected desires of ordinary humans who want to fly, be faster, be stronger, be smarter, have some special ability, etc... And very often, in order to assist in the understanding of a Three representation for the general public, a dichotomy had to be used.
In many cases a "three" idea is some personalized rendition of a person's own developmental shift taking place in their consciousness, and may not be believed in by others. For example, the idea of Hitler's Third Reich which many people did not believe in, but it served as an acceptable construction to express a developmental shift taking place with him. So too is the case with those of the LGBTQ+ clan who think of themselves in terms of being a third species. No matter how stupid this may sound to you, it serves them as an emblematic representation of how they are experiencing a measure of a developing consciousness that would otherwise be applied to different circumstances if they were not subjected to a cultural venue which highlights sexuality as an acceptable venue for expressing am experienced change in consciousness for which there is no globally standardized methodology nor philosophy of adequately addressing the differentiated scenarios of a developing consciousness— that reflects the maturity of an evolutionary event expressed in the development of an expanding consciousness. and that expansion is not dependent on one's sexual, racial, economic or other typified demographic used in sociological or anthropological contexts of attempted cultural assessments. And even though Freud created his in the form of the Id- Ego- Superego that was embraced by thousands, its usage has been downplayed in later eras. Nonetheless, it worked for him an others.
If we permit ourselves to indulge in creating a list of threes ideas, we might at sometime place examples from ancient history such as the triads of gods, goddesses, family units, and mythological creatures, many of which may well have been seriously believed in. Yet, if we look about the world as seen through through the visual perspicuity of ancient illiterate, superstitious and fearful people, and is very much in vogue today in the sense of nominal standards of education, rationalized superstition, and fearfulness/economic uncertainty; we of today... like those of the past, can not readily see anything in Nature... at face value, that appears to be in a position to influence the development of ideas with a three theme. For those examples we might list as expressing a three-part theme such as the concept of past, present, future or seconds-minutes-hours or days-weeks-hours, etc... the only evidence of a "three" influence in nature would seem to be the later realized notion of dawn- noon- dusk. Since triplets and other multiple births were not a regularity, though twins apparently occurred frequently enough to create a socialized platform of both recognition and celebration which could and did influence the construction of ideas related to themes described as being supernatural (such as romulus/remus, cain/able, goliath/david, etc...), though a survey of other examples may be profitable to some readers interested in this topic: Twins in Mythology.
However, the reader should not overlook the typical examples being proved as part of Western civilization. In many cases such as with triplets, accounts almost invariably portray a culture in which multiple other types of "three" patterns occurred; most notably religion and mythology related to metaphysical and supernatural ideas of consciousness. Such examples remind me of a person's efforts to form a word or idea, but ultimately resorts to using a crude model of illustration/gesture... like cave wall drawings representing (to me) a type of overhead bubbled expression seen in cartoons. The triplets, triads and multiple other enumerated and non-enumerated ideas seen in mythology, religion, government structures, architectural styles, arithmetic/mathematics, etc., are all crude attempts by which a developing consciousness is trying to find its most effective voice of articulation, but the human consciousness is systematically forced to abide by the standards of a given culture, most of which rely very heavily on some mode of dichotomizationn. While efforts have been made to go beyond the convention of a duality straight-jacketing, they typically are configured in terms of a duality expressed in the language of some supposed triplicity, and therefore represent an inadequate or inconsistent triad... that might also be labeled an embellished duality. Let me present the routing of examples I have used before. Whereas an early idea was an illustrated duality, we can see some later attempt to construct a triplicity:
- From the yin/yang list of dualities, to the development of the I-ching triads (which are in actuality, embellished dyads).
- From the persistence of dualities taught in psychology classes, to the development of triadic ideas by these students as professionals.
- From the persistence of dualities in the basic structure of mathematical ideas, to later born uses of trichotomization.
- From the binary code of computers based on the on/off characteristics of an electrical circuit, to the use of a basic AND-OR-NOT boolean Algebra and then again by an attempted ternary/trinary language for quantum computing.
The triads used in mythology and religion were expressed as supernatural... that which exceeded normal ability. Particularly noted when we claim that a god has a super-human mind/consciousness. Such ideas are hints that the human form of consciousness is undergoing a transition to exceed the common consciousness. The same goes for those ancient instances when the human mind was transitioning into the usage of dualities. Dualities were once expressed as something other-than or more than natural. The same goes for those who express ideas of multiplicity, plurality, multi-dimensional, and of course singularity and infinity. They are like the bubbles, the wheezes, the gurglings heard while the development of an infant's brain is undergoing a transitional development. Much of dichotomization and use of duality is like the consonant/vowel reduplications heard in babbling. Present day humanity is engaged in the process of a consciousness development that is over-whelming for some and creates a myriad of issues for them... including the projection of their misunderstood experiences of a developing consciousness being defined in a negative way and attached to someone else. Whereas a person experiencing such may think they are on the verge of losing their mind, they then project this feeling onto one or more others and label them as having a problem... because we have a society that does not understand the development of consciousness as a collective species, nor knows how to respond to situations in which conflict arises due to a perceived hypocrisy in ideological orientations.
While those steeped in religion may well interpret a sensation of a developmental consciousness in terms of labeling it a revelation due to a heightened level of perception, or someone attending advanced studies claims their experiences are due to an increased knowledge, what about those people who do not have a readily available cultural situation in which to provide themselves with an acceptable rationale? Do they think they are going mad and those seek to self-medicate to reduce or obscure their experiences, or become so self-absorbed and retreat to a sanctuary of isolation, if not self-injury to strike out at a society that does not seem to understand what they are going through, because a developmental scenario that I crudely reference as trichotomization, is virtually unknown to a society whose main institutions are based on a world-view of using a foundation of dichotomization with a developed system of rationalization and expectation for everyone to toe the line, or being given some latitude for straying outside in the uncharted realm of trichkotomization if they are labeled eccentric, creative, talented, sensitive, a young/old/ancient soul, or some other accepted variance from the norm... that has been slowly gaining some venue of accepted no-harm-to-others variance?
History provides us with many examples of alternative "threes" constructions such as the creation of tripartite figures in mythology. And even though there are other quantities of mythological events and creatures, the "three" theme has become most pronounced for the sensibilities of thousands. However, in some cases, the idea of a given "three" theme may be viewed as important for some and thus becomes a central doctrine like that of the Christian Trinity or Hindu Trimurti, we come to find others denouncing the ideas while still retaining the centrality of their presence by sustaining a vocal antagonism! Much like someone denouncing superstitions while overlooking their practice of one or more. Or it is like a person claiming an other-than-three number is their favorite, but having indulged in the contrast with the three... or a person claiming there is no god, but routinely makes this same claim several times a day, week, or month and thus keeps the supposed non-existing god very much alive.
In looking at the development of consciousness over time, it appears that the acknowledged sensory phenomena involved an evolving sense of numerousity, associated with a crude sense of geometry (Geometric figures such as the line, circle, triangle, and later... overlapping and combined intersections.). And though the following assessment may be viewed as crude by some viewers, it nonetheless serves to illustrate that the human mind can be interpreted in terms of displaying a simple but abstract model of development over time:
- The idea or at least impression of multiplicity (though not necessarily named), came first... [like a primitive mind having advanced to a stage of cognitive acuity where the presence of the stars becoming recognized as a multitude... though no label may have at first been used due to the absence of such a vocabulary item.] Hence, we see a reflection of this in the trappings of religion and spirituality expressed by the concept of multiple god-like figures in those culture practicing animism and later the perceived forces of nature such as wind, rain, lightning, ocean waves, volcanic eruptions, etc... This sense of multiplicity was sensed in terms of a wholism, or oneness-singularity. Hence, the idea of ONE and multiplicity were at times co-equal representations of reality. It is similar to our present day notions of the vastness of the Universe and concept of infinity.
- Hence, the arithmetical sequence of one-many was a very real interconnected rationality.
- Next came the sense of TWO in terms of pairing or matching, much like an activity taught to children in grade school called matching, with conceptual excursions into frameworks of multiplicity as a oneness... sometimes expressed with animals illustrated on cave walls where no descriptive landscape accompanied the figures, thus giving the impression of figures floating about, which may be a description of how early minds actually captured external scenes in their non-fixed internal landscapes. In the mindscapes of very primitive peoples, reality may have been perceived in such a way as needing to be described on cave walls with no fixed ground, sky or sides, unlike what we of today claim to be seeing in accord with the language being taught as a descriptive tool of reality.
- Hence, in an arithmetical sense we encounter the notion of one-many, and then one-two-many. The humanizing of observed events and creatures in nature relied on the use of small counts, otherwise noted as a conservation of number.
- Sometime during and afterward, a greater distinction of ONE arose in the religious sense as had been established earlier in a arithmetical orientation.
- And though some viewed their religion in terms of an egotistical supremacy whereby religious leaders insisted on the presence of a single god to go along with their singular religion and singular identity— along with the idea of a chosen place; the reality is that many past cultures were amalgamations of different peoples sharing the same delusions, much like today.
- Eventually the development of "three" was cognitively approximated in various three-part themes, to include the geometric from of a triangle seen in the sustained use of triangle-shaped arrow and spear heads, along with triangularly contoured knives and spears.
While the sequence of Multiplicity/One- Two- Three may seem fanciful to some, then please... by all means, conceptualize your own formulation to explain the development of numbers and quantities of gods having been employed in different eras by different peoples. In any respects, not only do humans count, but it appears that developmental biology does as well, otherwise we need some specific biologically related means of establishing why a pattern of three (according to human perception) is preeminently fashionable in DNA and RNA with triplet codes, and the recurrence of three Germ layers.
If such examples of the three are not part of your typical vocabulary and knowledge base, and humanity is transitioning into a type of consciousness where some model of three is present, what then is the "three" are you using, or how is it being identified as a referenced oppositional?
If you look over the course of history, excluding those instances of threes not definitively expressed, we can pay witness to instances in which the "three" was expressed as triads. Although it is said Hegel never directly emphasized the use of triads, his work has been interpreted to illustrate the pattern being used on several occasions. Here is some supplemental commentary:
In philosophy, the triad of thesis, antithesis, synthesis (German: These, Antithese, Synthese; originally: Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis) is a progression of three ideas or propositions. The first idea, the thesis, is a formal statement illustrating a point; it is followed by the second idea, the antithesis, that contradicts or negates the first; and lastly, the third idea, the synthesis, resolves the conflict between the thesis and antithesis. It is often used to explain the dialectical method of German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, but Hegel never used the terms himself; instead his triad was concrete, abstract, absolute. The thesis, antithesis, synthesis triad actually originated with Johann Fichte. (Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis)
AI generated responses to the query: "did hegel claim triples?"
Yes, Hegel's philosophy is known for its reliance on triadic structures, although the popular "thesis, antithesis, synthesis" terminology is not directly from him, but often attributed to his work to simplify his complex dialectical method. Here's why Hegel is associated with triads and how he used them:
- Dialectical Method: Hegel employed a dialectical method in his philosophy to explain the development of concepts and ideas, according to the University of Hawaii Department of English. This method often involves a movement of thought through three stages.
- Triadic Structures Throughout His Work: Hegel's writings demonstrate a clear preference for triadic structures in organizing his thoughts and philosophical system. For example, he divided his philosophical system into three parts: the science of logic, the philosophy of nature, and the philosophy of spirit.
- Example from "Phenomenology of Spirit": In his "Phenomenology of Spirit", Hegel presents a development of consciousness through distinct stages or "shapes" that exhibit a triadic pattern.
- Underlying Principle: The triadic structure is a fundamental aspect of Hegel's philosophy, representing a movement from an initial idea (or being) to its opposite, and then to a higher-level concept that integrates the previous two.
Here is another AI response, this time to the query: "which philosophers used triples?"
Several philosophers have utilized the concept of "triples" or similar forms of three-part structures in their philosophical work. Here are some notable examples:
- Pythagoras and Pythagoreanism:
- Pythagoreans, starting with Pythagoras in the 6th century BC, held the conviction that numbers could explain the nature of the universe.
- They awarded dominant symbolism to the number three, believing that the whole world and everything in it is summed up in this number, as "end, middle and beginning give the number of the whole".
- For Pythagorean philosophers, the triad had an ethical dimension, where goodness of each person was believed to be threefold: prudence, drive, and good fortune.
- Plato:
- While not explicitly stated as using "triples" in the sense of mathematical Pythagorean triples, Plato's ideas were heavily influenced by Pythagorean thought.
- The Platonic Academy, founded by Plato, is arguably linked to Pythagorean ideas.
- Plato's work, such as the Symposium, includes discussions of triads, like the goddess triad Moira, Ilythia, and Callone ("Death, Birth and Beauty").
- Porphyry:
- The Neoplatonist philosopher Porphyry explicitly recorded a belief in the three aspects of the goddess Hecate representing the phases of the moon: new, waxing, and full.
- He also associated Hecate with Dionysus.
- Karl Popper:
- Popper proposed the idea of "three worlds" to represent different realms of reality:
- World 1: The physical world.
- World 2: The mental world (individual consciousness).
- World 3: Culture (human-created information).
- Popper proposed the idea of "three worlds" to represent different realms of reality:
- Other Philosophers and Thinkers:
- Philosophers like Gilles Deleuze used related concepts such as "triple liberation" and "triple reversal" in his work on art and cinema.
- The concept of triple or trinitarian deities existed in ancient religions, and figures like Jane Ellen Harrison, a classical scholar, explored female trinities.
- Carl Jung and Karl Kerényi, analysts of mythology and psychology, discussed the archetype of the Triple Goddess as a fundamental pattern in human mental development.
Internet Query: "Carl Jung and Karl Kerényi discussed the triple goddess", provided this AI response:
Yes, Carl Jung and Karl Kerényi discussed the triple goddess archetype, particularly in their collaborative work, "Essays on a Science of Mythology: The Myth of the Divine Child and the Mysteries of Eleusis". Here's how their discussion unfolded:
- Collaboration: Jung, known as the "most mythological of psychologists," and Kerényi, the "most psychological of mythologists," joined forces to elevate the study of mythology to a science.
- Focus on Archetypes: Their work centered on the concept of archetypes, which Jung saw as innate patterns or images that emerge from the collective unconscious and are reflected in myths and symbols across cultures.
- Kerényi's Contribution: Kerényi contributed essays on the Divine Child and the Kore (the Maiden), drawing upon Greek, Norse, Finnish, Etruscan, and Judeo-Christian mythology.
- Jung's Commentary: Jung provided a psychological commentary on Kerényi's essays, exploring the archetypal significance of these figures as living psychological realities.
- Triple Goddess as an Archetype: In their work, they viewed the triple goddess as an archetype, a fundamental pattern that manifests in various cultures through the arrangement of deities in triads.
- Kerényi's Specific Examples: Kerényi specifically wrote in 1952 about Greek goddesses such as Hera, noting their triple aspects as representing phases of the moon: maiden (waxing moon), fulfilled wife (full moon), and abandoned/withdrawing woman (waning moon).
- Mother-Maiden Relationship: They also touched upon the mother-daughter relationship in mythology, referencing figures like Demeter and Persephone in the Eleusinian Mysteries.
In essence, Jung and Kerényi explored the triple goddess archetype through their collaborative study of mythology, recognizing its widespread presence and symbolic significance in reflecting fundamental patterns of human experience and the natural world, such as the lunar cycle and stages of life.
It's important to note that the term "triple" can be used in different contexts within philosophy, encompassing not only mathematical concepts like Pythagorean triples but also symbolic representations of ideas, archetypes, or structures.
Here is another AI response, this time to the query: "which philosophers used triads?"
Numerous philosophers throughout history have incorporated triads or triadic structures into their philosophical systems or methods. Examples of Philosophers and their Triads:
- Hegel: Although it's a simplification of his complex dialectical method, the triad of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis is often used to describe his concept of ideas developing through internal contradictions. He also employed various trichotomies in his work, such as being-nothingness-becoming and subjective spirit-objective spirit-absolute spirit.
- Charles Sanders Peirce: His entire philosophy was built upon trichotomies and triadic relations, most notably his three categories: Firstness (quality of feeling), Secondness (reaction/resistance), and Thirdness (representation/mediation).
- Kant: Used triads in his articulation of categories, such as quantity (unity, plurality, totality) and quality (reality, negation, limitation).
- Plato: While the popular "triad" of Truth, Beauty, and Goodness is not definitively ascribed to him in that exact form, triadic concepts appear in his work, such as the three parts of the soul (logical, spirited, appetitive) or the three transcendentals (unity, truth, goodness).
- Plotinus: A prominent Neoplatonic philosopher, he utilized a hierarchical triadic structure consisting of the One, Nous (mind), and Psyche (soul).
- Thomas Aquinas: Applied triadic principles in various ways, for example, the three causal principles (agent, patient, act) or the three transcendentals of being (unity, truth, goodness).
The AI posed this question: Why are triads prevalent in philosophy?
This is the AI's response to its own question: Triads offer a structured way to represent and understand complex concepts and processes.
- Balance and Harmony: Triads can represent the balance between opposing forces, like the Tao in Taoism balancing Yin and Yang.
- Synthesis and Evolution: In some cases, a triad involves the emergence of a third element as a synthesis of two opposing forces, showcasing development and change. This is famously exemplified by the Hegelian dialectic.
- Completeness: Three elements can create a sense of completeness and a foundation for understanding broader systems.
It is important to note that the specific composition and interpretation of triads can vary significantly across different philosophical systems.
Note: the reader of this page needed to have a first hand view that there have been others in history who have used variations of the "three" under different labels. However, using the query: "What philosopher discussed Trichotomization?", please note how the AI imposes its own method of assumption on the word "trichotomization", when its usage is not widely used nor discussed in any elaborated form of discussion or referencing. Instead of admitting that the use of the specific word and any respective definition is almost completely absent from Philosophy (and other subjects), it makes something up so as to give a false impression about its infallibility. In other words, the present model of AI assistance has an incorporated value which permits it to essentially lie. Here is its response:
Several philosophers have discussed concepts involving trichotomy, which is a three-way division or classification. Here are some notable examples:
- Charles Sanders Peirce: Peirce, an American philosopher, built his philosophy on trichotomies and triadic relations and processes. He famously framed the "Reduction Thesis", proposing that every predicate is essentially either monadic (quality), dyadic (relation of reaction), or triadic (representational relation).
- G.W.F. Hegel: Hegel's dialectical method often involves a process described as thesis, antithesis, and synthesis, which is a form of trichotomy. This process describes how the internal contradiction of an idea (antithesis) leads to a new understanding (synthesis) that resolves the conflict with the original idea (thesis).
- Immanuel Kant: Kant, though noting that "polytomy" (division into more than two parts) is empirical, used trichotomous divisions in his own philosophical system, such as his categories of judgment (universal, particular, singular).
- Plato: While not explicitly discussing "trichotomization" as a general method, Plato's theory of the soul divides it into three parts: reason, spirit, and appetite.
After years of attempting to get a bit of recognition for my list of threes ideas by various philosophers that had been "appropriated" from one of my earlier web pages, the wikipedia page on Trichotomy (Philosophy) has finally provided a footnote recognizing my list which can be seen here: Column 5, BTR poster.
Page initially created: Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025... 9:54 AM
Initial posting: Sunday, July 6th, 2025... 11:18 AM