Single Idea 6943

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 4. Belief / c. Aim of beliefs]

Full Idea

The mere putting of a proposition into the interrogative form does not stimulate the mind to any struggle after belief; there must be a real and living doubt.

Gist of Idea

A mere question does not stimulate a struggle for belief; there must be a real doubt

Source

Charles Sanders Peirce (The Fixation of Belief [1877], p.11)

Book Reference

Peirce,Charles Sanders: 'Philosophical Writings of Peirce', ed/tr. Buchler,Justus [Dover 1940], p.11


A Reaction

This the attractive aspect of Peirce's pragmatism, that he is always focusing on real life rather than abstract theory or pure logic.