The Fixation of Belief

1) What is a belief? (Phenomenological description and practical description)

2) What does Peirce mean by “fixing a belief”?  

3) Why is fixing a belief so important?

4) What is inquiry or thought? What is its purpose?

5) What are four methods of fixing beliefs?

6) Explain the relationship between fixing a belief and settling opinion?

7) Describe the advantages of the method of tenacity and authority.

8) Explain the a priori method of fixing beliefs. What philosopher used this method?

9) Explain Peirce’s criticism of the a priori method.

10) Explain the scientific method.

11) Why does Peirce believe that the scientific method is the one that we should adhere to?

12) What is Peirce’s conception of truth?

13) Is Peirce a Metaphysical Realist or Metaphysical Idealist? Explain each of these doctrines.

14) Why is metaphysical realism so important for the scientific method?

15) Explain the importance of the notion of community for Peirce’s scientific method and his conception of Truth.