It is a fascinating topic but is it really as mysterious as Ben Novak claims?
After all, the idea of fascism, an ideology that assumes a previous lost purity
and perfection of life within a societal order, ...and declares that IF this
purity-of-behaviour/belief can be reinserted into the society, THEN, perfection
of life will ensue...well, fascism is hardly new. And the current Islamic
fascism and ISIS in the Middle East and Africa is our modern example of the
Third Reich.
I'd say that such an ideology emerges in a population that has moved beyond the
carrying capacity of its economic mode; the resultant imbalance and the
inability of the govt to remedy this, results in an alienation of people from
reality and a movement into irrationalism and emotion. These emotions are
primal, far more basic than reason and science; so, thugs and violence will
never disappear.
So - the belief emerges, within the Peircean abductive 'a priori' (this fascist
way of life will work!)..and rather than moving on to that ideology being
evaluated by the scientific method, it is stopped in its tracks. The ideology
is then reinforced by Authority and Tenacity. ...and the people are lost in
terrible violence.
What we also may not realize is that tribalism, the idea of 'Us' versus' Them
is basic to the human species, since our knowledge base is not innate but is
learned socially. So, this social group that holds our knowledge is vital. Its
power over us, as an individual, is important. This group is 'the tribe'; we
must trust the veracity of their knowledge...and we don't trust other tribes.
So, knowledge/beliefs are held by virtue of Peirce's false methods far more
often than they are held by the non-tribal method of science.
Edwina
----- Original Message -----
From: Jerry LR Chandler
To: PEIRCE-L
Cc: Ben Novak
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2015 10:20 AM
Subject: Re: [PEIRCE-L] Recently published: Hitler and Abductive Logic
Ben:
Fascinating topic... will attempt to download thesis.
from the post by Stephen Jarosek:
“Unlike the other forms of logic, abduction is based on instinct and has a
power over emotions.”
Is this your statement?
Is this your belief?
In your view, what are the linguistic / rhetorical constraints on this form
of logic?
In other words, what binds this view of abduction to other forms of logic?
Cheers
Jerry
On Jul 5, 2015, at 9:35 PM, Ben Novak wrote:
Dear Stephen:
I agree that the price is outrageously high. Unfortunately, the publisher
sets the price, and I have no control over that. It is my hope that soon the
price may come down.....but, again, I cannot fathom the logic of the publisher.
In the meantime, the book is available either in your library, or through
interlibrary loan.(You may also request your university library or local public
library to obtain a copy) You may also check the worldcat to find a library
that has it near you.
If for any reason there is a shortage of copies of the book through
interlibrary loan, you may also request a copy of the text of my original
dissertation, which is entitled The Third Logic: Adolf Hitler and Abductive
Logic, Doctoral Dissertation, The Pennsylvania State University, 1999. Be
advised that this version has a host of clerical errors, and is missing the
final chapter, which I added to the book version for publication by Lexington.
Additionally, I have been advised by someone that a copy of the
dissertation is also available somewhere on the internet where dissertations
are digitally archived, though I have been unable to locate where exactly this
is.
Finally, I will be glad to send a review copy to anyone who will commit to
writing a publishable review of the book for Transactions or some other
publication.
Thanks for your interest.
Ben Novak
Ben Novak
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
On Sun, Jul 5, 2015 at 8:48 PM, Stephen C. Rose <[email protected]> wrote:
A less expensive edition might encourage more to buy it. Especially if
they have no budget for such purchases. I am sure such a discussion would be of
interest.
Books http://buff.ly/15GfdqU Art: http://buff.ly/1wXAxbl
Gifts: http://buff.ly/1wXADj3
On Sun, Jul 5, 2015 at 8:27 PM, Ben Novak <[email protected]> wrote:
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:
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
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
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