The Commens Dictionary

Quote from ‘Pragmatism’

Quote: 

In corollarial reasoning, the premisses act as stimulus to a suggestion according to general logical associations. But in theoric demonstration, it is necessary that associations should be introduced of which the premisses afford not the slightest hint. To this result two mental events must take place of natures as unlike each other as either is unlike an associative suggestion. Namely, in the first place, the ideas to be associated must be brought together in the mind, either by some accidental experience, or by the force of a natural or acquired instinct, or in consequence of a profound study of the forms of such associations. In any case, however, it will be a novel and original thought, cleverly shot upon the wing. In the second place an examination by means of experiments in the imagination must sufficiently show that the theoric association will involve no falsity.

Date: 
1907
References: 
MS [R] 318:55-6
Citation: 
‘Theorematic Reasoning’ (pub. 13.10.15-18:22). 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-pragmatism-40.
Posted: 
Oct 13, 2015, 18:22 by Mats Bergman
Last revised: 
Oct 13, 2015, 18:33 by Mats Bergman