Jerry:
I'm not sure that the 'double-entry book-keeping' reference of Peirce (7.378)
can be compared with the analysis of chemical formation (stoichiometry) which
is a mechanical action that asserts that 'THIS set of molecules/atoms...when
transformed according to chemical laws...results in THAT different set of
molecules/atoms but with nothing lost or denied. Very mechanical, very
Saussurian. And vital in the chemical realm.
I think that what Peirce was referring to, in this section on psychognosy, was
a comparison of the instincts/attributes of the individual with those of the
whole species, and his view was that the instinctual attributes found in the
individual cannot be MORE (or different) than found in the species. So, if a
spider species has the instinct to build a particular type of web, then ALL
individuals in the species have the same instinct. There is no transformation
of type (eg of web) as is found in the chemical transformation.
Edwina
----- Original Message -----
From: Jerry LR Chandler
To: Gary Richmond
Cc: Peirce-L
Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2015 3:02 PM
Subject: Re: [PEIRCE-L] Instinct
Gary:
On Jul 15, 2015, at 2:21 PM, Gary Richmond wrote:
Why must the sides of the ledger balance?
I've been mulling this over since I read it and haven't yet been able to
come to an adequate answer to your question. At the moment I'm thinking it
might have something to do with Peirce's idea that every individual is a kind
of society, while every society is also a kind of individual.
"Balancing the ledger" is one of the fundamental principles of chemistry
which requires that the abductive logic of molecule compound formation from
elements is NECESSARY to balance ALL chemical reactions.
This is just another example of the role of chemical logic played in
influencing his philosophical perspectives.
Cheers
jerry
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