The Commens Dictionary

Quote from ‘Pragmatism’

Quote: 

It is now necessary to point out that there are three kinds of interpretants. Our categories suggest them, and the suggestion is confirmed by careful examination. I terms them the Emotional, the Energetic, and Logical Interpretants. They consist respectively in feelings, in efforts, and in habit-changes. [—]

The majority of signs, in their significative capacity, provoke efforts, whether they be efforts in the outer or the inner world, or whether they be efforts of inhibition, or self-restraint, which make so large a part of the effort to pay attention. An event may provoke an effort of the mind, and not a mere reflex response of the body, without being thereby a sign; but if one becomes definitely conscious, in the provoked effort, of acting against a resistance, or of resisting a force, then the notion of such resistance or such active force is conveyed; and there is a sign.

Date: 
1907
References: 
MS [R] 318:43-5
Citation: 
‘Energetic Interpretant’ (pub. 13.10.15-17:16). 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-pragmatism-37.
Posted: 
Oct 13, 2015, 17:16 by Mats Bergman