Dear Peirce-L members: Please allow me to join Tom Wyrick in accepting the invitation to introduce ourselves.
I am rejoining this List for the third time. I first joined in approximately 1999 when I discovered Charles Sanders Peirce as I was writing my Ph.D. dissertation. Peirce's theory of abduction then became a major part of it. I completed the dissertation and received my Ph.D. from Penn State University in 1999, at the ripe old age of fifty-six. At that time I was a practicing attorney in State College, PA. I think I recall Jon Awbrey as an active discussant even way back them... Subsequently, I moved to Europe where I taught at various universities in Slovakia, Austria, and Bulgaria.; In about 2006, I rejoined the List and engaged in some very interesting email discussions with, Sami Paavola, among others I am happy to say that in 2014 Lexington Books saw fit to publish my work under the title, *Hitler and Abductive Logic: The Strategy of a Tyrant*. You may find it on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Hitler-Abductive-Logic-Strategy-Tyrant/dp/0739192248 The relevance of this work to Peirce-L list members should be obvious from its title: *Hitler and Abductive Logic*. The editorial reviews bring out the Peirce connection even more: Hitler and Abductive Logic: The Strategy of a Tyrant is thought-provoking and extremely creative, exploring aspects and influences of Hitler’s formative years that other biographers and historians have not examined to the same degree of detail. The application of the logic of abduction to Hitler’s mental development is fascinating, and clearly no other author has tried to apply Peirce’s description to Hitler in such a way. (Beth A. Griech-Polelle, Bowling Green State University) The amount of literature on Adolf Hitler is astounding. And yet, as Ben Novak demonstrates, historians still have not fully explained how this ill-educated and irrational provincial Austrian actually rose to power in Germany. This work uses the concept of abductive logic both as a means of investigating the mystery of Hitler's rise to power and as a way to understand the mind and character of Hitler. Novak's book, written in an engaging narrative style, offers a compelling argument for a new approach to the mystery of Hitler's rise to power. (Jackson Spielvogel, Pennsylvania State University) In light of some of the recent discussions on applying Peirce's concepts to issues outside of formal academic discussions of logic, many of the current members of the List may find this work of compelling interest in expanding the discussion to wider examples of applications of Peirce's logic. I would be very interested in the reviews of Peirce specialists on the manner in which I apply Peirce's concepts to this subject. Of course, I realize how grotesque, sensitive (and toxic) the subject of Hitler is. However, if Sherlock Holmes and August Dupin are correct that 'The more *outre'* and grotesque an incident is the more carefully it deserves to be examined... (Holmes), 'It appears to me that this mystery is considered insoluble, for the very reason which should cause it to be regarded as easy of solution - I mean for the *outre'* character of its features... (Dupin) ...then the rise of Hitler especially invites the application of their methods, which consist of brilliant applications Peirce's adductive logic---as Umberto Eco and Thomas Sebeok make abundantly clear in *The Sign of Three: Dupin, Holmes, Peirce *(which is a work that also plays a significant role in my book). See: <goog_189368004> http://www.amazon.com/The-Sign-Three-Advances-Semiotics/dp/0253204879 In any event, I will be very happy to discuss this subject and the application of adductive logic with any members of the List who are interested. Sincerely, Ben Novak *Ben Novak <http://bennovak.net>* 5129 Taylor Drive, Ave Maria, FL 34142 Telephones: Magic Jack: (717) 826-5224 *Best to call and leave messages.* Landline: 239-455-4200 *My brother's main phone line.* Mobile (202) 509-2655* I use this only on trips--and in any event messages arrive days late.* Skype: BenNovak2 *"All art is mortal, **not merely the individual artifacts, but the arts themselves.* *One day the last portrait of Rembrandt* *and the last bar of Mozart will have ceased to be — **though possibly a colored canvas and a sheet of notes may remain — **because the last eye and the last ear accessible to their message **will have gone." *Oswald Spengler
----------------------------- PEIRCE-L subscribers: Click on "Reply List" or "Reply All" to REPLY ON PEIRCE-L to this message. PEIRCE-L posts should go to [email protected] . To UNSUBSCRIBE, send a message not to PEIRCE-L but to [email protected] with the line "UNSubscribe PEIRCE-L" in the BODY of the message. More at http://www.cspeirce.com/peirce-l/peirce-l.htm .
