Argument Outline Pierce “Law of Mind"

Argument Outline Pierce “Law of Mind"

Conclusion: The statement that the state of things existing at any time along with certain fundamental laws is able to completely determine the state of things of every other time is untrue. This is merely a postulate of “hoping” and presupposes all of science. It is simply impossible to have a world where everything is preordained. There must be some tychism or chance that allows for order to be born in the universe. Out of irregularity, regularity evolves and stabilizes in what he call evolutionary cosmology.

“I endeavored to show what ideas ought to form the warp of a system of philosophy, and particularly emphasized that of absolute chance. In the number of April, 1892, I argued further in favor of that way of thinking, which it will be convenient to christen tychism (from tyché, chance)….I have begun by showing that tychism must give birth to an evolutionary cosmology, in which all the regularities of nature and of mind are regarded as products of growth….which holds matter to be mere specialized and partially deadened mind.” Pierce “The Law of Mind”

Premise 1: The increasing complexity, growth, variety, diversity, and regularity of the universe demonstrate the presence of chance in creating order by a functional disorder. Chaos and order clearly coexist and our essential to our universe. It is perfectly reasonable to allow for chance to be an objective factor in the universe.

Premise 2: The disorder and unpredictability within our own thoughts demonstrates such factors in the ordering of our universe. Mind and consciousness both exist in a state of confusion and understanding.

Premise 3: Evolution itself is based in tychistic principles. The accidental variation that is demonstrated by Darwin is a clear demonstration of a system operated by both chance and purpose.