Editorial 2: “Meaning” and the Welby—Peirce Correspondence

Abstract

This second editorial of this book is on the importance of the correspondence between Charles Sanders Peirce and Lady Victoria Welby—their letters show many aspects of an evolving philosophical insight that centers (in hindsight) around the issue of meaning. The two letters, which are introduced here, form as it were an autobiography of Peircean philosophy, its semiotic dimensions and considerations why Peirce could not entirely go with Lady Welby in forwarding significs included. Whoever wants to reflect on the difference between the two, should read these letters and consider their arguments. It interests how Peirce takes all the trouble to explain his triad of Firstness, Secondness and Thirdness, and what his own skepticism in view of that triad means. For legal semiotics, the issue is of great interest in so far as the power of expressiveness inherent in legal language is considered in vicinity to De Haan, the first legal semiotician.