Dialogue as Habit-Taking in Peirce’s Continuum: The Call to Absolute Chance

Abstract

In this inquiry, I testify to the central place of signs in Peirce’s cosmology, and to the power of entertaining novel propositions (complementary and conflicting) through dialogue to foster the unity necessary to weld members of his continuum. Peirce’s concept of dialogue becomes the conduit to weld each member of the continuum. Peirce’s primary mover in bringing about this ‘welding’ is chance/habit in sign use itself. Although the self’s place as an expression of all components of the physical world will be addressed, primary focus will be accorded to logical shifts ascertained via transition from inter- to intra-actional dialogue.