Charles Sanders Peirce

Life of Charles Sanders Peirce

• Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914) was an American philosopher, logician, and scientist who is widely considered to be one of the most influential thinkers of the 19th century. He is best known for his contributions to the development of pragmatism, a philosophical movement that emphasizes the practical application of ideas. Peirce was also a prolific writer, publishing over 700 articles and books on a wide range of topics, including logic, mathematics, philosophy, and the sciences.

• Peirce was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on September 10, His father, Benjamin Peirce, was a professor of mathematics and astronomy at Harvard University, and his mother, Sarah Mills Peirce, was a homemaker. Peirce was the eldest of three children, and his siblings included William James Peirce and Juliette Peirce.

• Peirce attended Harvard University, where he studied mathematics and philosophy. He graduated in 1859 with a degree in chemistry. After graduation, Peirce worked as a surveyor for the United States Coast Survey, a job he held for the next seven years. During this time, he also studied philosophy and logic, and wrote several papers on the topics.

• In 1866, Peirce was appointed as a lecturer in logic at Johns Hopkins University. He taught there for two years before returning to Harvard in 1868 as a professor of logic and metaphysics. During this time, he wrote several influential papers on logic and the philosophy of science, including “The Fixation of Belief” (1877) and “How to Make Our Ideas Clear” (1878).

• In 1879, Peirce was appointed as the first professor of philosophy at the newly established Johns Hopkins University. He taught there until 1884, when he resigned due to health problems. During this time, he wrote several more influential papers, including “The Logic of Relatives” (1880) and “The Architecture of Theories” (1883).

• In 1887, Peirce was appointed as a lecturer in logic at the University of Pennsylvania. He taught there until his retirement in During this time, he wrote several more influential papers, including “The Pragmatic Maxim” (1905) and “The Logic of Abduction” (1906).

• Peirce was a prolific writer, publishing over 700 articles and books on a wide range of topics, including logic, mathematics, philosophy, and the sciences. He is best known for his contributions to the development of pragmatism, a philosophical movement that emphasizes the practical application of ideas. He is also credited with introducing the concept of semiotics, the study of signs and symbols.

• Peirce died on April 19, 1914, in Milford, Pennsylvania. He was 74 years old. His legacy lives on in the form of his writings, which continue to be studied and discussed by philosophers and scientists around the world.

Teachings of Charles Sanders Peirce

• The law of mind: the universe is a mental construct.

• The law of continuity: reality is a continuum, not a collection of discrete objects.

• The law of chance: chance is a real factor in the universe.

• The law of evolution: the universe is in a constant state of change and development.

• The law of habit: habits are the basis of all knowledge.

• The law of pragmatism: truth is determined by its practical consequences.

• The law of fallibilism: all knowledge is provisional and subject to revision.

• The law of abduction: the process of forming hypotheses.

• The law of synechism: the universe is composed of interconnected elements.

• The law of tychism: the universe is composed of unpredictable elements.

• The law of retroduction: the process of inferring the cause from the effect.

• The law of semiosis: the universe is composed of signs and symbols.

• The law of iconism: the universe is composed of iconic representations.

• The law of agapism: the universe is composed of love and compassion.

• The law of the excluded middle: there are no absolute truths.

• The law of the continuum: reality is composed of continuous gradations.

• The law of the infinite: the universe is infinite and unbounded.

• The law of the infinite regress: all knowledge is based on prior knowledge.

• The law of the infinite series: all knowledge is based on a series of steps.

• The law of the infinite cycle: all knowledge is based on a cycle of learning.