Truth, Rationality and Pragmatism

Christopher Hookway presents a series of studies of themes from the work of American philosopher Charles S. Peirce (1839-1914), often described as the founder of pragmatism. Topics discussed include Peirce's theory of truth, his metaphysical views, his claim that emotions and sentiments guide us in reasoning well, and his religious views.

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Christopher Hookway presents a series of studies of themes from the work of the great American philosopher Charles S. Peirce (1839-1914), often described as the founder of pragmatism. These themes centre on the question how we are able to investigate the world rationally; Peirce's ideas about this continue to play an important role in philosophy, logic, and semiotics, as Hookway shows. After an extended examination of Peirce's account of truth, and of its relations to his ideas about logic, reference, and representation, Hookway discusses his claim that rationality requires a system of 'scientific metaphysics'. The second half of the book studies the role of common sense, sentiments, and emotions in rationality. It concludes with discussions of Peirce's approach to religious belief and the role of pragmatism in his thought. These compelling essays (many of them published here for the first time) present the fruits of fifteen years of research on Peirce, but do so in a way that makes his ideas accessible and relevant for philosophers who are not specialists in the history of American thought.
The introduction offers a general sketch of Peirce's philosophy as a way into the book for such readers, and draws together the themes of the essays.