Peirce and the Threat of Nominalism

by Paul Forster

Charles Peirce, the founder of pragmatism, was a thinker of extraordinary depth and range – he wrote on philosophy, mathematics, psychology, physics, logic, phenomenology, semiotics, religion and ethics – but his writings are difficult and fragmentary. This book provides a clear and comprehensive explanation of Peirce's thought. His philosophy is presented as a systematic response to 'nominalism', the philosophy which he most despised and which he regarded as the underpinning of the dominant philosophical worldview of his time. The book explains Peirce's challenge to nominalism as a theory of meaning and shows its implications for his views of knowledge, truth, the nature of reality, and ethics. It will be essential reading both for Peirce scholars and for those new to his work.

Genres: Philosophy

272 pages, Hardcover

First published March 17, 2011

Reviews

[Charlie Kester · Rating 5 out of 5]

A closely reasoned exposition of Peirce's argument against nominalism.

Begins with an overview of the main argument and then proceeds to explain the reasoning behind its premises at increasing levels of depth. Along the way the reader will learn much about Peirce's theory of inquiry, of truth, continuity, and his version of the pragmatic maxim.

As with any exposition of a historical philosopher's argument, there are two questions which can be asked: (1) is it a faithful representation of Peirce's argument? and (2) does the argument as presented accomplish what it aims to achieve? The first is a question for historians of philosophy and Peirce scholars in particular. Not being either, I won't attempt to answer it. On the second, I will say that it I find it persuasive, given Peirce's premises. I'll be returning to this book for deeper study.