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Full Idea
I do not reason for the sake of my delight in reasoning, but solely to avoid disappointment and surprise.
Gist of Idea
I reason in order to avoid disappointment and surprise
Source
Charles Sanders Peirce (Criterion of Validity in Reasoning [1903], I)
Book Ref
Peirce,Charles Sanders: 'Philosophical Writings of Peirce', ed/tr. Buchler,Justus [Dover 1940], p.125
A Reaction
Hence Peirce places more emphasis on inductive and abductive reasoning than on deductive reasoning. I have to agree with him. Anyone account of why we reason must have an evolutionary framework. What advantage does reason bestow? It concerns the future.
| 14779 | I reason in order to avoid disappointment and surprise [Peirce] |
| 14777 | That a judgement is true and that we judge it true are quite different things [Peirce] |
| 14778 | Facts are hard unmoved things, unaffected by what people may think of them [Peirce] |
| 14780 | Only study logic if you think your own reasoning is deficient [Peirce] |