The Commens Dictionary

Quote from ‘On Existential Graphs as an Instrument of Logical Research’

Quote: 

It is necessary to recognize the facile distinction between a graph and a graph-instance. A graph-instance is a token, that is, is an existent individual object, which signifies a proposition. It can never be duplicated. Attempt to duplicate it, and the duplicate will be a graph-instance of the same signification in all respects, but it will not be that individual graph-instance of which it is the precise copy. I scribe, that is, write or draw, a sign meaning Tully was Cicero. I duplicate it precisely. The new sign will be substantially the same. It will only differ so much as is necessary to make it a second scribing of precisely the same type. But it will not be the same graph-instance. A graph, on the other hand, is a type.

Date: 
1906 [c.]
References: 
MS [R] 498
Citation: 
‘Graph-replica’ (pub. 24.08.17-10:33). 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-existential-graphs-instrument-logical-research-3.
Posted: 
Aug 24, 2017, 10:33 by Mats Bergman