Broski, it's just a blurb from my dusty philosophic reminescences (20 years ago! WTF decades are passing like eating nuts). But I admit that your words are always so inspiring. Those are the three phases in the dialectic process where the final stage results in a reconciling of the first two (can be also found in Marxian class theory). Honestly, sociology and economy are way more useful disciplines for understanding reality around us. Fuck philosophy, look in what shit we are now.. how did philosophy helped humanity to avoid this decline of ethos? That discipline revealed to be just another way for elites to mark a differences with lower classes so fuckit.

I guess three is the magic number... but it actually isn't.

Yes it isnt, just another overstructure of our brain.
About being trapped in past reflections, I understand your point, the expression "standing on the shoulders of giants" comes to my mind. I personally try to use the teachings from the past (but not only) like bricks for building something new or, if we want to put it like this, to help creating my niche of freedom in the present. Take care my friend and congrats for your recents debates on the future of Steemit.. you're the voice for many here, keep it up!