In this chapter, Mr. Pierce expresses several opinions about the concept of a clear idea, the way it should be defined and recognized, and the distinction between a truly clear idea and an idea that only looks clear on the surface. He states that any thought is a system to produce belief and that the act of thinking may also amount to different results, i.e. to pass time and amuse the thinker. According to Mr. Pierce (2001), the main motivation for thinking is the “irritation of doubt”, and once “belief is reached” the thought loses its purpose to stay activated (p. 197). Belief is explained to be not only a place where the thought stops but also a potential point of further development, of sorts, if the thought births more doubt and subsequent material for thinking. If we have a thought, usually we assume that this thought is reasonable. The chapter also discusses logic and reality. Reality changes its form from one person to another since, for example, any given idea could be understandable to one person and completely unacceptable to someone else.
The Main Points of the Work
The points I have gotten from this paper are as follows:
- The clear idea is a condition when one has resolved his or her doubts, reached belief, and put his or her thought to rest.
- The thought is an action.
- True belief is hard to distinguish from false belief. It is probable that true belief cannot be achieved due to the fact that it never lasts and soon turns into another doubt when obtained.
- Reality is relative; everyone reacts differently to his or her own opinions and the opinions of others.
Main Points Evaluation
Let us start with the clearness of an idea. It is quite an abstract concept that presumes that sometimes we stop thinking at all for short periods of time. When we resume our thinking, the clearness is lost again. In my opinion, this statement needs further clarification as it is not clear how to define other actions our minds perform in this context. We cannot explain everything in terms of doubt. When we ask questions, we doubt; when we state our opinion, we are sure. Does it mean our thinking is on a pause when we are sure? How can we be fully sure of something in the first place? The same goes for true belief. In this chapter, Mr. Pierce asserts that when one reaches the state of true belief, he or she usually gets relaxed as his or her thoughts stop roaming in search of a comfortable resolution of doubt. It is a little contradictory since, later in the same work, Mr. Pierce implies that any belief already contains traces of future doubt when it is acquired. Besides, what if it is impossible for someone to reach this state due to individual conditions? Let us imagine a person diagnosed with paranoia; a person who cannot be sure about anything. It would be interesting to see this situation explained within the confines of this theory.
I rather agree with viewing a thought as an action. It makes sense that the workings of our mind are considered this way since they often bring physical results. This paper I am composing right now is a perfect example of these results. As for relativity of reality, I agree with that as well, and that we should remember the existence of subjective and objective realities in this case. Subjective realities are born when people observe objective reality through their personal sets of sensory and psychological filters, which, of course, correlates with Mr. Pierce’s assertions regarding different opinions and different people’s reactions to them.
Reference
Pierce, C. S. (1878). How To Make Our Ideas Clear. In M. P. Lynch (Eds.), The Nature of Truth: Classic and Contemporary Perspectives (pp. 193-209). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.