Jerry R., List: JR: So, what’s your leading principle?
As I understand it, a leading principle (according to Peirce) is not so much about where you start, as how you get from premisses to conclusion. JR: Do you start with the object/thing or the concept? Is what the Greeks called a "thing" really equivalent to what Peirce called an "object"? Or are you using "object" here in a different sense from Peirce's typical employment of it, for that which determines a sign? An object in this sense is not limited to being a thing; for example, it can also be a concept. JR: Peirce tells us to start with the object ... Again, the object of a sign is not necessarily a fact--surprising or otherwise. JR: Consider above in light of truth as the opinion fated to be *agreed upon* by *all who investigate* ... More properly (according to Peirce), truth is the opinion fated to be agreed upon by an *infinite community* at the end of an *indefinite inquiry*. It is a regulative hope, not an inevitable outcome. There has been, and will continue to be, plenty of *disagreement* along the way--even among competent and diligent investigators of good will. Regards, Jon Alan Schmidt - Olathe, Kansas, USA Professional Engineer, Amateur Philosopher, Lutheran Layman www.LinkedIn.com/in/JonAlanSchmidt - twitter.com/JonAlanSchmidt On Tue, May 17, 2016 at 5:47 PM, Jerry Rhee <[email protected]> wrote: > Here’s a clash of leading principles: > > > > Seth: “I think Strauss would say that there’s an enormous disparity > between the way in which the questions now come to us, and the way in which > they should be truly formulated. The way in which they come to us is so > deeply infected by the tradition, and it’s so all-pervasive, that you don’t > even know where the categories we use are coming from... > > It goes back to a point in the preface to Hegel’s *Phenomenology*, about > the distinction between the Greeks and the moderns- they begin with things > and we begin with the concepts…” > > > > *In his essay “Political Philosophy and History”…Strauss quotes Hegel on > the difference between modern and premodern philosophy. “The manner of > study in ancient times is distinct from that of modern times, in that the > former consisted in the veritable training and perfecting of the natural > consciousness. Trying its powers at each part of its life severally, and > philosophizing about everything it came across, the natural consciousness > transformed itself into a universality of abstract understanding, which was > active in every matter and in every respect. In modern times, however, > the individual finds the abstract form ready made”. > > ~Encounters and Reflections, Seth Benardete > > > > So, what’s your leading principle? > > Do you start with the object/thing or the concept? > > Perhaps it’s unavoidable that we must start with concepts, then go to the > object. > > > > Peirce tells us to start with the object because: > > *The surprising fact, C, is observed.* > > *But if A were true…* > > > > Unless, of course, you read above with A as being the object, not C. > > But what is the ground for your opinion? Give an example. > > > Consider above in light of truth as the opinion fated to be *agreed upon* > by *all who investigate* and*, * > > > *"*Few persons care to study logic, because everybody conceives himself > to be proficient enough in the art of reasoning already. But I observe that > this satisfaction is limited to one's own ratiocination, and does not > extend to that of other men." and, > > > "First and Second, Agent and Patient, Yes and No, are categories which > enable us roughly to describe the facts of experience, and they satisfy the > mind for a very long time. But at last they are found inadequate, and the > Third is the conception which is then called for. The Third is that which > bridges over the chasm between the absolute first and last, and brings them > into relationship." > > > So, what grounds your belief for how we ought to start (whether with > object/thing or concept/rule) when there is a matter of difference of > opinion? > > What's your leading principle? > > > Best, > Jerry Rhee >
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