57 Letters to Josiah Royce, 1903–1913
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Ahti-Veikko Pietarinen
R L 385, Houghton Library; Harvard University Archives. This chapter compiles Charles S. Peirce’s correspondence with philosopher Josiah Royce, centering on their intense debate over Peirce’s proof that “two collections cannot each be greater than the other”—a cornerstone of his theory of infinite multitudes. The letters reveal Peirce’s rigorous defense against Royce’s critiques, demonstrating his commitment to logical precision and the ethics of scientific reasoning. Peirce dissects potential fallacies, appeals to diagrammatic insights (hinting at existential graphs), and insists on the limitations governing relational logic. Beyond technical disputes, the exchange touches on metaphysics, the foundations of mathematics, and Peirce’s struggles with institutional neglect. Royce’s resistance (see Introduction to this volume) reveals their philosophical tensions, whereas Peirce’s persistence illuminates his unyielding quest to establish logic as an exact science. These letters, which are marked by intellectual urgency and personal candidness, frame Peirce’s mature work on continuity, pragmaticism, and abduction.
R L 385, Houghton Library; Harvard University Archives. This chapter compiles Charles S. Peirce’s correspondence with philosopher Josiah Royce, centering on their intense debate over Peirce’s proof that “two collections cannot each be greater than the other”—a cornerstone of his theory of infinite multitudes. The letters reveal Peirce’s rigorous defense against Royce’s critiques, demonstrating his commitment to logical precision and the ethics of scientific reasoning. Peirce dissects potential fallacies, appeals to diagrammatic insights (hinting at existential graphs), and insists on the limitations governing relational logic. Beyond technical disputes, the exchange touches on metaphysics, the foundations of mathematics, and Peirce’s struggles with institutional neglect. Royce’s resistance (see Introduction to this volume) reveals their philosophical tensions, whereas Peirce’s persistence illuminates his unyielding quest to establish logic as an exact science. These letters, which are marked by intellectual urgency and personal candidness, frame Peirce’s mature work on continuity, pragmaticism, and abduction.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations of Peirce’s Works, Archives, and Names
- Introductory Note XV
- Foreword XVII
- Contents XXI
- General Introduction to Logic of the Future 1
- Introduction to the Theory of Existential Graphs, Volumes 3/1 and 3/2 15
- Introduction to Peirce’s Correspondence on Existential Graphs 29
- Afterword 200
- References 205
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Charles S. Peirce’s Correspondence on Existential Graphs
- 55 Letters on Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology, 1900–1902 239
- 56 Entries for Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology, 1900–1902 257
- 57 Letters to Josiah Royce, 1903–1913 296
- 58 Peirce–Paul Carus–Francis C. Russell Correspondence, 1896–1919 303
- 59 Letters to William James, 1897–1910 376
- 60 Letter to E. V. Huntington, February 14, 1904 426
- 61 Letters to Victoria Welby, 1905–1909 430
- 62 Letters to Samuel Barnett, 1909–1910 473
- 63 Letter to James Howard Kehler, June 22, 1911 487
- 64 Letter to Fernand Robert, September 29, 1911 548
- 65 Letter to Allan Douglas Risteen, December 6–9, 1911 556
- 66 Correspondence with Frederick Adams Woods, 1911–1913 564
- 67 Letter to Fellow, 1909, and to Henry James Jr., 1911 590
- 68 Epilogue: Correspondence with Mary Elizabeth Huntington, 1907–1914 606
- Chronology of the Correspondence 637
- Bibliography of Peirce’s References
- Contents of previous volumes 653
- Name Index
- Keyword Index
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations of Peirce’s Works, Archives, and Names
- Introductory Note XV
- Foreword XVII
- Contents XXI
- General Introduction to Logic of the Future 1
- Introduction to the Theory of Existential Graphs, Volumes 3/1 and 3/2 15
- Introduction to Peirce’s Correspondence on Existential Graphs 29
- Afterword 200
- References 205
-
Charles S. Peirce’s Correspondence on Existential Graphs
- 55 Letters on Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology, 1900–1902 239
- 56 Entries for Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology, 1900–1902 257
- 57 Letters to Josiah Royce, 1903–1913 296
- 58 Peirce–Paul Carus–Francis C. Russell Correspondence, 1896–1919 303
- 59 Letters to William James, 1897–1910 376
- 60 Letter to E. V. Huntington, February 14, 1904 426
- 61 Letters to Victoria Welby, 1905–1909 430
- 62 Letters to Samuel Barnett, 1909–1910 473
- 63 Letter to James Howard Kehler, June 22, 1911 487
- 64 Letter to Fernand Robert, September 29, 1911 548
- 65 Letter to Allan Douglas Risteen, December 6–9, 1911 556
- 66 Correspondence with Frederick Adams Woods, 1911–1913 564
- 67 Letter to Fellow, 1909, and to Henry James Jr., 1911 590
- 68 Epilogue: Correspondence with Mary Elizabeth Huntington, 1907–1914 606
- Chronology of the Correspondence 637
- Bibliography of Peirce’s References
- Contents of previous volumes 653
- Name Index
- Keyword Index
