Charles S. Peirce is one of the most prominent developers of pragmatism philosophy. The article by Peirce deals with concepts of different ideas. Logicians divide ideas on clear and obscure, distinct and confused. For many years, these conceptions have not changed and have not been revised, although the life and people change. Logicians used these conceptions for many years, but in fact they belong to “extinguished” philosophy. The author stresses that there is need of new formulations.
According to Peirce there 3 stages of clearness:
Familiarity
Distinctness
Pragmatistic exposition (Pierce)
Clear idea is so understandable that it will be identified wherever it is met with, and so that no other idea will be erroneous for it. Clearness of ideas is determined by the lack of what is not clear, if that something incomprehensible occurs, we are talking about obscure ideas. Distinct idea is the idea, which contains nothing unclear in itself, so that we can give a strict definition to it. (Pierce)
The article points to the need for the presence of logic that should guide our mind, and according to which we should build the ideas, thereby making them clear and understandable. Peirce urges philosophers and logicians to pose easier, and what is more important not to confuse others and not to direct others to false ideas.
Peirce examines the writings of Descartes and recognizes his contribution valuable and important, but does not agree with certain moments, considering that there should be refinement, and that Descartes missed some very important details. French philosopher replaced the intellectual power of the Scholastics with assumed confidence of self- conscience. The issue of Descartes is that he does not notice the difference between the idea that is clear from the idea that only seems clear.
Leibnitz also has been criticized. Pierce points out that Leibnitz does not realize that the human brain can only transform acquired knowledge, but any new information could not be received from this. Another thing is when one add own observations to the received information. Leibnitz's position differs from Descartes'. The mechanism of the mind cannot function without empirical input.
Belief, as he claims, has three qualities. This is something we are familiar with, it calms down doubts, and it sets rules of act, practice. According to Pierce, a person is being in doubt, but for the sake of success in the work, it is necessary to overcome the doubts and reach the belief.
In other words, people should strive not only to the truth as to the belief. The latter derives from the values of understanding. According to Pierce, the understanding of consequences, produced by the object, is itself a complete understanding of the object. And, what the thing means is just the habits that this thing causes. Peirce then comes to the concept that we understand an object, set up on our understanding of the effects that are inherent for it.
You cannot be in discord with others if you agree in regard of certain moments. (Pierce) Peirce tries to think over numerous philosophical debates by analyzing what meaning certain words have, and how many reasons emerge from a difficulty of terminology and often there are just issues of the appropriateness of language. Developers of pragmatism philosophy believed that their theory of value will help to find out the true meaning of their concerns. Pierce understands by the pragmatism mainly theory of thinking and method of establishing the value of concepts.
Reference List
Peirce, C. (1878). How to make our ideas clear. 2-4.
