Adding to John's last statement concerning Peirce's letters to Lady Welby,
let's remember the influential book by Ogden and Richards, The Meaning of
Meaning (1923), which brought discussion of Peirce to a wider audience over
many following decades. It was Lady Welby's influence on Ogden that brought
Peirce into the discussion, using quotes from Peirce's letters to Lady
Welby.
The Wikipedia page on the book could use some introduction of the
place of Peirce in the book. For example look at the diagram on this
webpage of the "triangle of reference," and the loose similarities to
Peirce’s idea of the sign:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Meaning_of_Meaning
Gene Halton
On Aug 9, 2017 1:41 AM, "John F Sowa" <s...@bestweb.net> wrote:
> Kirsti, Gary F., and Clark,
>
> Kirsti
>
>> Meanings are contextual. - Do we agree in that?
>>
>
> Yes. Peirce said many times in many ways that any meaningful
> concept must show its passport at the gates of perception
> and action. That is a major part of its context.
>
> Kirsti
>
>> Letters to lady Welby need to be interpreted and evaluated on the
>> basis to whom they were addressed to. Lady Welby was highly interested
>> in sign classifications.
>>
>
> The person who is addressed is also part of the context, and I agree
> that would influence the topics Peirce considered.
>
> His work in writing and editing definitions would have had a strong
> influence on "meaning", since that is the primary goal for dictionary
> definitions. Note what he wrote to B. E. Smith, the editor of the
> _Century Dictionary_:
>
>> "The task of classifying all the words of language, or what's the same
>> thing, all the ideas that seek expression, is the most stupendous of
>> logical tasks. Anybody but the most accomplished logician must break
>> down in it utterly; and even for the strongest man, it is the severest
>> possible tax on the logical equipment and faculty."
>>
>
> That comment indicates his high regard for his work on lexicography.
>
> Gary F.
>
>> Almost all of Peirce’s work on minute classification of sign types
>> was done in the period 1903-1908, and his work on almost everything
>> got set aside after that, because his health was deteriorating.
>>
>
> Clark
>
>> Peirce may have used the letter writing to clarify his thoughts,
>> but he appears to have been thinking on the issues for some time.
>>
>
> I agree with both of those comments. Peirce did not have the time
> and energy to prepare an article for publication. A letter was more
> likely to get attention for his ideas than a few pages in a notebook.
> Of all his correspondents, Lady Welby was the most likely to appreciate
> and circulate his letter about signs.
>
> Given his health at the time, the fact that he made the effort to write
> a long letter shows that he considered the subject matter important.
>
> John
>
>
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