My point was that the hypothesis of God is a value proposition and retroduction is a logic of value at its core. Optimism promotes and pessimism retards the effective development and expression of goals, which are values in action. I think Peirce probably meant God in a very abstract traditional sense. However, I think a high level value proposition (like an overarching ultimate aim that can be consistently pursued) can also direct this life guiding format. In either case, by their fruits you shall know them.
On Fri, Sep 10, 2021, 7:09 PM Jon Alan Schmidt <jonalanschm...@gmail.com> wrote: > Phyllis, List: > > After further contemplation and a second reading, I see how there are > likely psychological barriers preventing some inquirers from *professing* > belief > in the reality of God, and how your proposed approach to interpreting > Peirce's Neglected Argument might be helpful to them. However, from a > pragmatistic standpoint, the best evidence for what someone *really* believes > is not what they say, but how they behave. > > CSP: [A]ny normal man who considers the three Universes in the light of > the hypothesis of God's Reality, and pursues that line of reflection in > scientific singleness of heart, will come to be stirred to the depths of > his nature by the beauty of the idea and by its august practicality, even > to the point of earnestly loving and adoring his strictly hypothetical God, > and to that of desiring above all things to shape the whole conduct of life > and all the springs of action into conformity with that hypothesis. Now to > be deliberately and thoroughly prepared to shape one's conduct into > conformity with a proposition is neither more nor less than the state of > mind called Believing that proposition, however long the conscious > classification of it under that head be postponed. (CP 6.467, EP 2:440, > 1908) > > > Some people *permanently *postpone the conscious classification of their > state of mind as believing in the reality of God, but this does not entail > that they have no such belief. On the contrary, according to Peirce ... > > CSP: It may, therefore, truly be said that each of us believes in God, and > that the only quest is how to believe less crudely,--a commonplace yet > worth reminding ourselves of. It always seemed to me that, about 1875, when > many men of science used to call themselves "agnostics," they were, in > truth, among those whose Faith in God was firmest, and that it was > precisely because it was so firm that they did not recognize it. (R 641:22, > 1909) > > > Perhaps this is another example of how "facts that stand before our face > and eyes and stare us in the face are far from being, in all cases, the > ones most easily discerned" (CP 6.162, EP 1:333, 1892). > > Regards, > > Jon S. > > On Fri, Sep 10, 2021 at 5:24 PM Jon Alan Schmidt <jonalanschm...@gmail.com> > wrote: > >> Phyllis, List: >> >> Thank you very much for bringing your essay ( >> https://arisbe.sitehost.iu.edu/menu/library/aboutcsp/chiasson/revisit.htm) >> to our attention. On a first reading, I find it to be both thoughtful and >> thought-provoking. Nevertheless, as should be clear from my recent posts, I >> see no evidence in "A Neglected Argument" itself--especially when taken in >> conjunction with the manuscript drafts and other relevant writings--that >> Peirce meant anything by "God" in that context other that the traditional >> conception, "religiously (and even politically) loaded" though it may be. >> >> Regards, >> >> Jon Alan Schmidt - Olathe, Kansas, USA >> Structural Engineer, Synechist Philosopher, Lutheran Christian >> www.LinkedIn.com/in/JonAlanSchmidt - twitter.com/JonAlanSchmidt >> >> On Fri, Sep 10, 2021 at 4:52 PM Phyllis Chiasson < >> phyllis.marie.chias...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> Many years ago, I wrote on this topic. It's posted on Arisbe: Revisiting >>> A Neglected Argument for the Reality of God. It might be relevant here. >>> >> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ > ► PEIRCE-L subscribers: Click on "Reply List" or "Reply All" to REPLY ON > PEIRCE-L to this message. PEIRCE-L posts should go to > peirce-L@list.iupui.edu . > ► To UNSUBSCRIBE, send a message NOT to PEIRCE-L but to > l...@list.iupui.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE PEIRCE-L in the SUBJECT LINE of the > message and nothing in the body. More at > https://list.iupui.edu/sympa/help/user-signoff.html . > ► PEIRCE-L is owned by THE PEIRCE GROUP; moderated by Gary Richmond; and > co-managed by him and Ben Udell. >
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