The Lesson of the Universe

Abstract

The consequences of Peirce’s realism–idealism are shown in this chapter mainly as a naturalized Logic that rules the whole universe, making it a Kósmos Noetós, an expression used by Plato in the Timaeus, meaning “intelligible universe.” Peirce’s Metaphysics is, indeed, a refined architecture, founding a new Philosophy of nature, a cosmological Philosophy, where every possible strangeness between man and Nature is gradually undone and where all human faculties are also findable in Nature, extending them to the natural reign, in a radical nonanthropocentric Philosophy. Evolution considered in time imposes that we, humans, are a product of Nature, mainly including in this heritage all our mind faculties. A radical decentralization of meaning from the human sphere brings a spreading of intelligence, creativity, and sensitivity in diverse degrees to all living beings, who, in a cosmic timescale, are older than us and have a sort of logical history to tell us. This is, in short, the main meaning of the title of this last chapter.

Moment, the moment in and out of time, The distraction fit, lost in a shaft of sunlight, The wild thyme unseen, or the winter lightning Or the waterfall, or music heard so deeply

That it is not heard at all, but you are the music

While the music lasts.

T. S. ELIOT, The Dry Salvages