Peirce - Introduction

Peirce discovered the idea of the practical:

"A certain maxim of Logic which I have called Pragmatism has recommended itself to me for diverse reasons and on sundry considerations. Having taken it as my guide for most of my thought, I find that as the years of my knowledge of it lengthen, my sense of the importance of it presses upon me more and more. If it is only true, it is certainly a wonderfully efficient instrument. It is not to philosophy only that it is applicable. I have found it of signal service in every branch of science that I have studied. My want of skill in practical affairs does not prevent me from perceiving the advantage of being well imbued with pragmatism in the conduct of life."   Lecture I : Pragmatism : The Normative Sciences, CP 5.14

The applicability of a thought in every branch seems to make it valuable. 

Few persons care to study logic, because everybody conceives himself to be proficient enough in the art of reasoning already. 

An old argument about logic.

"But I observe that this satisfaction is limited to one's own ratiocination and does not extend to that of other men."

"We come to the full possession of our power of drawing inferences the last of all our faculties, for it is not so much a natural gift as a long and difficult art." "Illustrations of the Logic of Scence" First Paper — The Fixation of Belief", in Popular Science Monthly, Vol. 12 (November 1877)

Peirce Summary of his Symbolism in the Encyclopedia: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/peirce-semiotics/#BasSigStr

History

Micro-relational approaches are promoted. With a warm heart we stand and use war-metaphors to express or opinions. We fight for some rights.

The built leverage might, however, not be enough for changing situations in rural areas, for changing the angry white man, for informing the under-informed and uninterested, or the falsely informed truthers. It does not change conservative Latinos who embrace their family or honest workers who only want a job that pays more than average. It does not change social structures of distribution. All or minimal ideas do not reach the sphere of self-realizing ideas. 

Some warm glow feelings come back to us who tell a story of globalized, universal rights. Protection of minorities, however, is not up to some people standing up in buses fighting against the obvious idiots, but it is about forged and instituted concepts. As much as there are no causes from a sociological perspective, there are almost no micro-activities that induce change in that regards. 

Maybe people should rather become active in NGO's and work on discourse abilities to find a new idea of how to unite people in meritocracies? 

I held the position that there is nothing happening in philosophy right now. After 9/11 we are in a period of transition and transformation at best. The Marxist stories are told, the libertarian story is told and some communitarians decided to teach their ideas in Canada. Maybe it is the best choice to go to countries that are good in telling new stories and seeking for new ways of life. 

There is no change by gentrifying our areas. There is no change by me staying here, staying connected with some friends. Moreover, standing up for those in need, as much as we should do it, does not change those in need. Minorities are very well trained in racism and hatred, they just don't have the majority to express it. I am clear on leaving and seeking something else.

Our critique of the system is absorbed in a new form of anti-establishment government, a government that claims to be against the government as much as we are against it.