Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 6
Pragmatism and the Philosophy of Chemistry
Joseph E. Earley Sr.
6.1
Introduction
“How is it possible in a universe consisting entirely of physical particles in fields of
force that there can be such things as consciousness, intentionality, free will,
language, society, ethics, aesthetics, and political obligations?” John R. Searle
suggests that this is the single overriding question in contemporary philosophy—
but also notes that “many, perhaps most, contemporary philosophers do not address
it directly” (Searle
2010
, 3). Joseph Margolis (
2012
, 129 ff.) agrees with Searle
s
assessment of the importance of that question—but he rejects the response to it that
Searle proposes. Instead, Margolis claims that the philosophical approach called
“Pragmatism” is well on its way to resolving the problem that Searle identifies.
Charles S. Peirce (1839-1914) (the family name is pronounced
'
)is
generally regarded as the founder of philosophical Pragmatism. Arguably, this
characteristically American approach is the only non-religious philosophical school
that originated outside Europe—but it may now be cultivated elsewhere more than
it is in the United States. Peirce did his graduate studies in chemistry, and he
identified himself as a chemist throughout his career. Peirce worked for many
years in The United States Coast Survey, mainly carrying out precise geophysical
measurements: his voluminous philosophical publications deal more with logic
and semiotic
1
'
purse
'
(the theory of signs) than with chemistry. It is now clear that the
1
Peirce considered
He continued to develop and
modify his theory of signs throughout his life, several times rejecting his earlier efforts because of
difficulties he had identified. However, Jacques Derrida and others have continued to apply
Peirce
semiotic
to be a discipline parallel to
logic.
'
'
'
'
s early theories of signs under the designation
semiotics
(Short
2007
, 45). Peirce
s theory
'
'
'
'
of signs (semiotic) is discussed later in this paper.
