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Whenever a man acts purposively, he acts under a belief in…

“Whenever a man acts purposively, he acts under a belief in some experimental phenomenon. Consequently, the sum of the experimental phenomena that a proposition implies makes up its entire bearing upon human conduct.” quote by Charles Sanders Peirce
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“Whenever a man acts purposively, he acts under a belief in some experimental phenomenon. Consequently, the sum of the experimental phenomena that a proposition implies makes up its entire bearing upon human conduct.”

Charles Sanders Peirce

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Acts guided by belief in experimental ideas shape how propositions influence behavior.

In simple terms: Beliefs in experiments drive actions.

Key Takeaway

Recognize underlying experimental assumptions.

Themes

philosophy epistemology human behavior

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

philosophical reflective

When to use this quote

  • scientific research
  • policy making
  • personal decision making

Key Concepts

pragmatism belief experiment

Questions to Reflect On

  • What experimental assumptions underlie your actions?
  • How do you test those assumptions?
A Different Perspective

Beliefs may be flawed or untested.

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