Charles S. Peirce's 'A Neglected Argument for the Reality of God'
Charles Sanders Peirce's essay, "A Neglected Argument for the Reality of God," is a philosophical text where Peirce presents an argument in favor of the existence of God through a method he calls "musement." This method involves a form of intellectual contemplation that does not rely on formal logic, but instead on a kind of intuitive reasoning akin to creative thinking or imaginative engagement.
Key Points of the Essay:
Musement: Peirce introduces the concept of "musement" as a free and playful exploration of ideas. He suggests that engaging in musement naturally leads to the hypothesis of God's reality. It's a process similar to abductive reasoning, where one generates speculative ideas to explore their coherence and implications.
Three Modes of Reasoning: Peirce distinguishes between deduction, induction, and abduction. In this paper, he emphasizes abduction as the starting point for reasoning towards the reality of God, where we propose hypotheses based on surprising observations.
The Instinct of Belief: Peirce argues that humans have a natural instinct or tendency to believe in God, which can be seen as a product of the innate human pursuit of understanding and purpose.
Scientific Attitude: He aligns this intuitive belief with a scientific attitude, arguing that belief in God is not unlike accepting other foundational beliefs that we hold on good, albeit not conclusive, grounds.
Aesthetic and Ethical Dimensions: Peirce also alludes to the aesthetic and moral considerations that support belief in God, suggesting that they enrich life and provide moral guidance.
Peirce's argument is notable for being non-dogmatic; it doesn't claim to provide strict proof for the existence of God but instead encourages an open, contemplative engagement with the idea, reflecting his broader pragmatic philosophy.
For more detailed reading, you might want to explore the full text available on resources such as Internet Archive or similar resources.