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Commens
Digital Companion to C. S. Peirce
‘Firstness’ (pub. 08.01.13-18:35). Quote in M. Bergman & S. Paavola (Eds.), The Commens Dictionary: Peirce's Terms in His Own Words. New Edition. Retrieved from http://www.commens.org/dictionary/entry/quote-guess-riddle-0.
Term: 
Firstness
Quote: 

We have seen that it is the immediate consciousness that is preeminently first, the external dead thing that is preeminently second. In like manner, it is evidently the representation mediating between these two that is preëminently third. Other examples, however, should not be neglected. The first is agent, the second patient, the third is the action by which the former influences the latter. Between the beginning as first, and the end as last, comes the process which leads from first to last.

Source: 
Peirce, C. S. (1887-1888). A Guess at the Riddle. MS [R] 909.
References: 
EP 1:250; CP 1.361
Date of Quote: 
1887-1888
URL: 

http://www.commens.org/dictionary/entry/quote-guess-riddle-0