Michael, Peirce is saying something very different here, referring as he does to "best thinking."
With respect, Steven On Jul 12, 2011, at 10:21 AM, Michael Hoffmann wrote: > Sounds like my favorite: > > "All our thinking is performed upon signs of some kind or other, either > imagined or actually perceived. The best thinking, especially on > mathematical subjects, is done by experimenting in the imagination upon a > diagram or other scheme, and it facilitates the thought to have it before > one's eyes." Thus, for any "concept" or mental state, "external signs answer > every purpose, and there is no need at all of considering what passes in > one's mind" (Peirce, NEM I 122) > > Peirce (NEM). The New Elements of Mathematics by Charles S. Peirce (Vol. > I-IV). The Hague-Paris/Atlantic Highlands, N.J., 1976: Mouton/Humanities > Press. > > Best, > Michael > > On 7/12/2011 12:59 PM, Michael Tomasello wrote: >> Sorry if this went out before (not sure), but I'm looking for a Peirce quote >> whose substance (but not words) I recall. Not sure where it was from, but >> its something like: >> >> We can know the human mind only by examining its products. >> >> Thank you for any help. >> >> Best, >> >> Mike Tomasello
