A first principle is a premise-less syllogism valid if and only if it is impossible for its conclusion to be false. For example: All A is A (1, 2). There is no such thing as only one first principle, because that would result in being alone, acting alone, and/or meaning alone, each of which is an impossibility that collapses even if taken with just one of the others. The grand syllogism is premise-less and triadic.
There are three impossibilities, the opposites of which are the three first principles which are restatements of the triadic first principle:
The first impossibility is being alone.
Being alone cannot move or have a reason (why) to be.
The second impossibility is acting alone.
Action alone has no substance or reason (why) to move.
The third impossibility is meaning alone.
Reason (why) alone has no substance or action to sustain.
Triadic first principle:
Being is substance with Action that moves with sustaining Reason (why).
- Introduction to Logic, Harry J. Gensler, Routledge, 2002 (a 2005 reprint), p. 10.
- Copilot’s take: Examples of First Principles
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