Jon, Michael, Edwina, Robert M, and Gary R, Peirce's range of interests, talents, and research was so broad that there is no single best method for studying and interpreting his writings. For different aspects of his work, some methods are better than others. But even for those areas where one method may be dominant, other methods may also be appropriate for certain aspects. For these reasons, what triggered this thread is not what Jon wrote, but what Gary R wrote. As moderator, he's supposed to moderate. He has the right to state his opinions about any issue., But when he made a blanket statement about my competence, that was out of bounds. There are some areas for which Peirce depended very heavily on math and logic. The four volumes of NEM are prime examples. But there are also many topics in CP, EP, and W for which mathematics is essential for understanding the nuances. For topics that touch on those areas, someone who is not attentive to the mathematical issues may be misled. When I read comments that ignore those issues, I say so. Re principle of charity: That is necessary for interpreting philosophers who are not able to speak for themselves -- either because they are dead or merely because they are not present in the discussion. But if they are present, they can speak for themselves about any misunderstanding. I've known Gary R for years, and we've always been quite friendly. But I also know that Gary is not a mathemtician, and he has a tendency to downplay the influence of mathematics on Peirce's philosophy. I would not object to some criticism of an issue in which I emphasize the importance of mathematics and formal logic. I would then accept the burden of proof to show that math is indeed important for that particular topic. I've done that in some cases, and I'll continue to do so. John
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