Explorations

Future Paths of Phenomenology

1st OPHEN Summer Meeting

Repository | Series | Book | Chapter

229202

Peirce's existential graphs as a contribution to transcendental logic

Mohammad Shafiei

pp. 97-122

Abstract

Peirce, among his vast logical works, also invented a less known logical framework called by him Existential Graphs. It offers a diagrammatic method to represent logical expressions and logical deductions, so that logical deductions are formulated as transformations of diagrams. In this paper, after a short introduction to Existential Graphs (EGs hereafter), I will propose an interpretation of the framework of EGs in a way that it offers a method for meaning explanation of logical connectives. According to this interpretation, I will try to show, that the meaning explanation displayed by EG is different both from truth-functional and inferentialist approaches. I will focus on the philosophical merits of this framework, more precisely I am going to suggest that the features of EGs satisfy certain essential criteria of a theory of logic as put forward by transcendental investigations. Indeed EGs provide us with a powerful tool to carry out logical analyses not only in a formal way but also as belonging to what Husserl calls the "phenomenology of reason".

Publication details

Published in:

Shafiei Mohammad, Pietarinen Ahti-Veikko J. (2019) Peirce and Husserl: mutual insights on logic, mathematics and cognition. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 97-122

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-25800-9_6

Full citation:

Shafiei Mohammad (2019) „Peirce's existential graphs as a contribution to transcendental logic“, In: M. Shafiei & A. J. Pietarinen (eds.), Peirce and Husserl, Dordrecht, Springer, 97–122.