The Commens Dictionary

Quote from ‘Fallibilism, Continuity, and Evolution [R]’

Quote: 

But in order really to see all there is in the doctrine of fallibilism, it is necessary to introduce the idea of continuity, or unbrokenness. This is the leading idea of the differential calculus and of all the useful branches of mathematics; it plays a great part in all scientific thought, and the greater the more scientific that thought is; and it is the master key which adepts tell us unlocks the arcana of philosophy.

We all have some idea of continuity. Continuity is fluidity, the merging of part into part. But to achieve a really distinct and adequate conception of it is a difficult task, which with all the aids possible must for the most acute and most logically trained intellect require days of severe thought.

Date: 
1893 [c.]
References: 
CP 1.163-164
Citation: 
‘Continuity’ (pub. 11.06.14-18:39). 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-fallibilism-continuity-and-evolution-4.
Posted: 
Jun 11, 2014, 18:39 by Sami Paavola
Last revised: 
Oct 07, 2018, 17:23 by Mats Bergman