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Charles Sanders Peirce

Charles Sanders Peirce Quotes

Philosopher

Charles Sanders Peirce was an American philosopher, logician, and scientist, born on September 10, 1839, and died on April 19, 1914. Known as the founder of modern symbolic logic, Peirce's philosophical ideas have had a profound impact on fields such as logic, philosophy of science, and cognitive science.

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Famous Charles Sanders Peirce Quotes

“By an object, I mean anything that we can think, i.e. anything we can talk about.”

Thinking Mean Objects

Author:Charles Sanders Peirce

“Our whole past experience is continually in our consciousness, though most of it sunk to a great depth of dimness. I think of consciousness as a bottomless lake, whose waters seem transparent, yet into which we can clearly see but a little way.”

Thinking Way Littles Whole Seems Past Water Consciousness Experience Depth Lakes Transparent Past Experiences

Book:Collected papers of Charles Sanders Peirce

Source: Collected papers of Charles Sanders Peirce

“Some think to avoid the influence of metaphysical errors, by paying no attention to metaphysics; but experience shows that these men beyond all others are held in an iron vice of metaphysical theory, because by theories that they have never called in question.”

Thinking Men Shows Attention Influence Theory Errors Vices Iron Metaphysics Metaphysical

Book:His Glassy Essence: An Autobiography of Charles Sanders Peirce

Source: His Glassy Essence: An Autobiography of Charles Sanders Peirce

“I think of consciousness as a bottomless lake, whose waters seem transparent, yet into which we can clearly see but a little way.But in this water there are countless objects at different depths; and certain influences will give certain kinds of those objects an upward influence which may be intense enough and continue long enough to bring them into the upper visible layer. After the impulse ceases they commence to sink downwards.”

Source: Collected papers of Charles Sanders Peirce

“We do not really think, we are barely conscious, until something goes wrong.”

Thinking Conscious

Author:Charles Sanders Peirce

“Upon this first, and in one sense this sole, rule of reason, that in order to learn you must desire to learn, and in so desiring not be satisfied with what you already incline to think, there follows one corollary which itself deserves to be inscribed upon every wall of the city of philosophy: Do not block the way of inquiry.”

Thinking Way Firsts Reason Philosophy Desire Order Cities Wall Deserve Satisfied Block Sole Inquiry Incline Desire To Learn

Book:The Essential Peirce: Selected Philosophical Writings

Source: The Essential Peirce: Selected Philosophical Writings

“There is a kink in my damned brain that prevents me from thinking as other people think.”

People Thinking Brain Kink

Author:Charles Sanders Peirce

“Another characteristic of mathematical thought is that it can have no success where it cannot generalize.”

Thinking Success Science Mathematics Mathematical Characteristics

Book:Collected Papers of Charles Sanders Peirce: Exact logic (Published papers).. The Simplest mathematics

Source: Collected Papers of Charles Sanders Peirce: Exact logic (Published papers).. The Simplest mathematics

“The final upshot of thinking is the exercise of volition, and of this thought no longer forms a part; but belief is only a stadium of mental action, an effect upon our nature due to thought, which will influence future thinking.”

Thinking Action Form Belief Influence Effects Exercise Finals Dues Stadiums Volition Future Thinking

Book:The Essential Peirce, Volume 1: Selected Philosophical Writings? (1867–1893)

Source: The Essential Peirce, Volume 1: Selected Philosophical Writings? (1867–1893)