Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Perception', 'Reasoning and the Logic of Things' and 'Proof that every set can be well-ordered'

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4 ideas

15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 7. Animal Minds
19220 We may think animals reason very little, but they hardly ever make mistakes! [Peirce]
     Full Idea: Those whom we are so fond of referring to as the 'lower animals' reason very little. Now I beg you to observe that those beings very rarely commit a mistake, while we ---- !
     From: Charles Sanders Peirce (Reasoning and the Logic of Things [1898], I)
     A reaction: We might take this as pessimism about reason, but I would take it as inviting a much broader view of rationality. I think nearly all animal behaviour is highly rational. Are animals 'sensible' in what they do? Their rationality is unadventurous.
15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 4. Intentionality / a. Nature of intentionality
6481 If intentional states are intrinsically about other things, what are their own properties? [Robinson,H]
     Full Idea: Intentional states are mysterious things; if they are intrinsically about other things, what properties, if any, do they possess intrinsically?
     From: Howard Robinson (Perception [1994], 1.1)
     A reaction: A very nice question, which I suspect to be right at the heart of the tendency towards externalist accounts of the mind. Since you can only talk about the contents of the thoughts, you can't put forward a decent internalist account of what is going on.
15. Nature of Minds / C. Capacities of Minds / 5. Generalisation by mind
19255 Generalisation is the great law of mind [Peirce]
     Full Idea: The generalising tendency is the great law of mind.
     From: Charles Sanders Peirce (Reasoning and the Logic of Things [1898], VII)
     A reaction: How else could a small and compact mind get a grip on a vast and diverse reality? This must even apply to inarticulate higher animals.
19242 Generalization is the true end of life [Peirce]
     Full Idea: Generalization, the spelling out of continuous systems, in thought, in sentiment, in deed, is the true end of life.
     From: Charles Sanders Peirce (Reasoning and the Logic of Things [1898], III)
     A reaction: I take understanding to be the true aim of life, and full grasp of particulars (e.g. of particular people) is as necessary as generalisation. This is still a very nice bold idea.