Philosophical Writings of Peirce

I'm not really sure what my 5 stars means as this is a collection of works. It probably means that I think he was a really important philosopher, more respected as time goes on, and that I find some sympathy with parts of his philosophy. No one should go into this book thinking it will be easy. Much of it is difficult to read and some of it seems subject to the same over-thinking of most philosophers, in my view anyway. I found the first few articles on thinking to be clearer than the later ones, though it is not presented chronologically. I found his pragmatism clear as mud and his semiotics impenetrable. It is possible I'm just not smart enough or don't try hard enough to understand it. It is also possible it is just a lot mental . . . . . . . . . . . . I found his belief in God, stated in the last essay, to be so contrary to so many other positions he took that it was almost startling (although, emotionally understandable, given the time period in which he worked). I don't mean to diminish Peirce (as if I could). His epistemology was ahead of his time. Popper stated that had he discovered Peirce earlier in his life it would have made developing his own epistemology much easier, or something to that effect. And clearly Peirce was a deep and powerful thinker. But whenever I read virtually any philosopher other than Hume I quickly find that I think they have quickly gone beyond what I believe is credible. However, there is nothing easier than criticizing a philosopher and if there is anything in value in them, it is worth quite a lot. Overall, I think the editors did an excellent job presenting the most important part of his philosophy (pragmatism, semiotics or signs and fallibilism) and it is probably the best way for anyone who isn't doing his thesis on him to become familiar with him.

Great collection from a pragmatic philosopher who has diverse methods to his field

Love him. His thinking is delightful, his reasoning so clear and poignant, irreverent to sacred philosophers such as Descartes and Kant. And, then, he propose his ideas. Ideas on semiotics ahead of French semiology. Peirce as our first American philosopher deserves our attention... Ah! fierce Peirce...

Seemed to be very comprehensive. Still trying to process all the ideas and concepts therein. Try it out yourself. Hm.

Super fast and item was as described! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!! So the writing style is a little clunky but it is definitely a fascinating book that has a uniquely American perspective on the topics. BTW, this is a great edition.

One of the most creative thinkers I have read. Breaks new ground and gets you thinking.

Peirce is a difficult writer/thinker/philosopher. I studied him 50 years ago and have tried to think like a pragmatist since then. But coming back to read some of his basic essays, I still find him difficult.

I have been those who have been influenced by Pierce for some time, so I thought that it would be useful for me to read Piece directly. Not sure if I wanted to go down the path of the more recently released "Collected Works" volumes, which stretch to thousands of pages, I'd hoped that this shorted compendium would be a more manageable introduction. Unfortunately, what is contained therein is NOT Pierce's writings, pers se, but rather Bulcher's efforts to cut apart his varied output and reassemble it, Frankenstein's Monster-like, into a series of (thematic) chapters. Unfortunately, this approach comes across as jumbled together and the shifts in time and style is jarring. I think we'd have been much better served had Bulcher chosen a select set of his works and then presented them wholly (or in edited down fashion).