[Inquiry] Re: Extension x Comprehension = Information

[Jon Awbrey]

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ECI.  Note 29

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| Abstract words such as 'truth', 'honor', by the way, are somewhat difficult
| to understand.  It seems to me that they are simply fictions.  Every word
| must denote some 'thing';  these are names for certain fictitious things
| which are supposed for the purpose of indicating that the object of
| a concrete term is meant as it would be did it contain either no
| information or a certain amount of information.  Thus "charity
| is a virtue" means "What is charitable is virtuous -- by the
| definition of charity and not by reason of what is known
| about it".  Hence, only analytical propositions are
| possible of abstract terms;  and on this account
| they are peculiarly useful in metaphysics
| where the question is what can we know
| without any information.
|
| CSP, CE 1, pages 276-277.
|
| Charles Sanders Peirce, "On the Logic of Science",
| Harvard University Lectures of 1865, pages 161-302 in:
|
|'Writings of Charles S. Peirce:  A Chronological Edition',
|'Volume 1, 1857-1866', Peirce Edition Project,
| Indiana University Press, Bloomington, IN, 1982.

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