Abstract
Peirce’s speculative story of the history of habit remains inferior to Thirdness, degenerating into individual belief (Firstness) with social rules (Secondness). The nervous sensation of habit is investigated by the physiological method of induction. The reactionary habit is caused by the emotional beliefs of the interpreter to remedy the discomfort of mind or body through energetic efforts. The variety of habits are emotional and energetic interpretants in search of logical interpretants. At a later time, Peirce developed habits into the psychological aspects, then a new discipline. Faced with the troublesome reasoning of habits, induction was re-considered as psychological abduction. Habits not merely reflect the moral truth of good habits but also provoke bad habits. Habit becomes habituality, ending in habituescence. Peirce’s concept of habit interprets emotions and experiences to come to understanding (or misunderstanding). In Peirce’s words, from desire (First) and pleasure (or displeasure) (Second), habits can grow into satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) (Third).
We all know that real, genuine acting upon principle is exceptional; that at best what is so called is mostly only the working of a good habit, and at its worst of an odious inclination. Just so, what people dignify by the name of their reasonings are mostly mere passages from one judgment to another in a way in which natural bent, habit, experience, the example of the wise, half-consciously move them to think. (CTN: 2: 270, 1900).
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Notes
- 1.
For example, CP: 1.553–1.555, 1867, 1.339, 1895, 2.228–2.229, c.1897, 1.541–1.542, 1903, 8.332–8.333, 1904, 8.337–340, 1904, 8.343–8.344, 1908, 8.334–6.347, 1909, 8.177–8.185, 1909, 8.314–8.315, 1909.
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Gorlée, D.L. (2016). On Habit: Peirce’s Story and History. In: West, D., Anderson, M. (eds) Consensus on Peirce’s Concept of Habit. Studies in Applied Philosophy, Epistemology and Rational Ethics, vol 31. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45920-2_2
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