Peirce's Existential Graphs and the Proof of Pragmatism

摘要

Peirce tried to prove the truth of pragmatism from its birthday, especially the pragmatism of his own type, which he renamed pragmaticism in 1905. The system of existential graphs has the following merits for the proof of pragmatism: First, according to Peirce's original statement, pragmatism maintains that the meanings of a concept consist in its practical effects. Since the EG system experimentally operates on the concept, it takes the essential character of pragmatism as self-evident. Secondly, the iconic EG system can be successfully translated into a symbolic system and vice versa. This proves the meanings of symbols are derived from those of icons, in other words, the meanings of concepts are derived from experiences. Thirdly, the EG system incorporates all kind of signs, which stand for "the total of all general modes of rational conduct" (CP 5.438), deals with all three universes and the relations between them, which represent "all the possible different circumstances and desires" (CP 5.438), to ascertain or clarify the meanings of a symbol—the blank sheet of assertion. This equals Peirce's restatement of pragmatic maxim. Fourthly, the EG system is a mathematical logic system, so each step of the proof is strict. Finally, the EG system may be interpreted as a process of the growth of a symbol, and it is during the process, the meanings of the symbol are identified and clarified. There are several interpretations of the EG system. As a whole, I have adopted J. Zeman's continuity interpretation.