The Commens Dictionary

Quote from ‘What Pragmatism Is’

Term: 
Belief
Quote: 

Belief is not a momentary mode of consciousness; it is a habit of mind essentially enduring for some time, and mostly (at least) unconscious; and like other habits, it is (until it meets with some surprise that begins its dissolution) perfectly self-satisfied. Doubt is of an altogether contrary genus. It is not a habit, but the privation of a habit. Now a privation of a habit, in order to be anything at all, must be a condition of erratic activity that in some way must get superseded by a habit.

Source: 
Peirce, Charles S. (1905). What Pragmatism Is
Date: 
1905
References: 
CP 5.417
Citation: 
‘Belief’ (pub. 20.03.13-19:41). Quote in M. Bergman & S. Paavola (Eds.), The Commens Dictionary: Peirce's Terms in His Own Words. New Edition. Retrieved from http://www.commens.org/dictionary/entry/quote-what-pragmatism-1.
Posted: 
Mar 20, 2013, 19:41 by Sami Paavola
Last revised: 
Jan 07, 2014, 00:58 by Commens Admin