The Pragmatic Maxim

Christopher Hookway presents a series of essays on the philosophy of Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1913), the 'founder of pragmatism' and one of the most important and original American philosophers. Peirce made significant contributions to the development of formal logic and to the study of the normative standards we should follow in carrying out inquiries and enhancing our knowledge in science and mathematics. In The Pragmatic Maxim, Hookway exploresPeirce's writings on truth, science, and the nature of meaning, which have become steadily more influential over recent decades. He demonstrates how Peirce's ideas can contribute to and inform philosophicalunderstanding in debates that continue today.The first seven chapters explore the framework of Peirce's thought, especially his fallibilism and his rejection of scepticism, and his contributions to the pragmatist understanding of truth and reality. Like Frege and Husserl, among others, Peirce rejected psychologism and used phenomenological foundations to defend the system of categories. The final three chapters are concerned with 'the pragmatic maxim', a rule for clarifying thecontents of concepts and ideas. Hookway explores the different strategies Peirce employed to demonstrate the correctness of the maxim, and thus of pragmatism. As well as studying and evaluating Peirce'sviews, The Pragmatic Maxim discusses the relations between the views of Peirce and other pragmatist philosophers such as William James, C. I. Lewis, and Richard Rorty.

“Christopher Hookway is one of the very finest scholars of C. S. Peirce and the tradition he founded 'e" American pragmatism . . . These essays are required reading for anyone interested in Peirce or pragmatism . . . We are also treated to a magnificent introduction, which will serve as a primer for those who want to know the essentials . . . [an] excellent volume”

we should be grateful for Hookwayâs deeply illuminating analyses Philip Kitcher, MIND
an excellent collection of eleven historical-philosophical studies of the philosophy of Charles Saunders Peirce... Hookways writing is clear and exact, and his thinking rigorous... in these essays [he] exemplifies enviable standards of historical and critical philosophical exposition... For anyone interested in the concept of knowledge, Hookway makes Peirces epistemology, philosophy of science and methodology of inquiry come alive. Dale Jacquette, Journal for the History of Analytical Philosophy
Christopher Hookway is one of the very finest scholars of C. S. Peirce and the tradition he founded -- American pragmatism . . . These essays are required reading for anyone interested in Peirce or pragmatism . . . We are also treated to a magnificent introduction, which will serve as a primer for those who want to know the essentials . . . [an] excellent volume Cheryl Misak, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

Christopher Hookway has been Professor of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield since 1995, having previously taught at the University of Birmingham. In 1995 he was President of the Charles S. Peirce Society. He is the editor of The European Journal of Philosophy.

Christopher Hookway presents a series of essays on the philosophy of Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1913), the 'founder of pragmatism' and one of the most important and original American philosophers. Peirce made significant contributions to the development of formal logic and to the study of the normative standards we should follow in carrying out inquiries and enhancing our knowledge in science and mathematics. In The Pragmatic Maxim, Hookway explores Peirce's writings on truth, science, and the nature of meaning, which have become steadily more influential over recent decades. He demonstrates how Peirce's ideas can contribute to and inform philosophical understanding in debates that continue today.The first seven chapters explore the framework of Peirce's thought, especially his fallibilism and his rejection of scepticism, and his contributions to the pragmatist understanding of truth and reality. Like Frege and Husserl, among others, Peirce rejected psychologism and used phenomenological foundations to defend the system of categories. The final three chapters are concerned with 'the pragmatic maxim', a rule for clarifying the contents of concepts and ideas. Hookway explores the different strategies Peirce employed to demonstrate the correctness of the maxim, and thus of pragmatism. As well as studying and evaluating Peirce's views, The Pragmatic Maxim discusses the relations between the views of Peirce and other pragmatist philosophers such as William James, C. I. Lewis, and Richard Rorty.

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