Quote from "The Author's Response to the anticipated Suspicion that he attaches a superstitious or fanciful importance to the number three, and forces Divisions to a Procrustean Bed of Trichotomy"

Commens

Digital Companion to C. S. Peirce

‘Triadomany’ (pub. 09.03.13-16:34). Quote in M. Bergman & S. Paavola (Eds.), The Commens Dictionary: Peirce's Terms in His Own Words. New Edition. Retrieved from http://www.commens.org/dictionary/entry/quote-authors-response-anticipated-suspicion-he-attaches-superstitious-or-fanciful.

Term:

Triadomany

Quote:

I fully admit that there is a not uncommon craze for trichotomies. I do not know but the psychiatrists have provided a name for it. If not, they should. “Trichimania,” [?] unfortunately, happens to be preëmpted for a totally different passion; but it might be called triadomany. I am not so afflicted; but I find myself obliged, for truth’s sake, to make such a large number of trichotomies that I could not [but] wonder if my readers, especially those of them who are in the way of knowing how common the malady is, should suspect, or even opine, that I am a victim of it.

Source:

Peirce, C. S. (1910). The Author's Response to the anticipated Suspicion that he attaches a superstitious or fanciful importance to the number three, and forces Divisions to a Procrustean Bed of Trichotomy. MS [R] 902.

References:

CP 1.568

Date of Quote:

1910

URL:

http://www.commens.org/dictionary/entry/quote-authors-response-anticipated-suspicion-he-attaches-superstitious-or-fanciful