Mind, Matter, and Evolution: An Outline of C. S. Peirce's Evolutionary Cosmogony

摘要

In the program article "The Architectures of Theories" (1893), C. S. Peirce presented his trichotomies within psychology, biology, physics and philosophy, and in terms of these trichotomies, it could easily be predicted, according to Peirce, what kind of metaphysics it would be appropriate to construct, a cosmogonic philosophy. But, other than presenting his very brief sketch of a thoroughgoing evolutionary cosmogony, Peirce, unfortunately, did not give this important topic further treatment in the article. The question which arises then is in what way these trichotomies can be said to be connected? Consequently, will an attempt to analyze a possible connection between the trichotomies shed light upon the evolutionary thinking of Peirce? In the following article we will give a tentative answer to this question.