Peirce and the Threat of Nominalism

Charles Peirce the founder of pragmatism was a thinker of extraordinary depth and range - he wrote on philosophy mathematics psychology physics logic phenomenology semiotics religion and ethics - but his writings are difficult and fragmentary. This book provides a clear and comprehensive explanation of Peirce''s thought. His philosophy is presented as a systematic response to ''nominalism'' the philosophy which he most despised and which he regarded as the underpinning of the dominant philosophical worldview of his time. The book explains Peirce''s challenge to nominalism as a theory of meaning and shows its implications for his views of knowledge truth the nature of reality and ethics. It will be essential reading both for Peirce scholars and for those new to his work.