Peirce's Philosophy Of Communication

Charles S. Peirce, the founder of pragmatism, was also the architect of a remarkable theory of signs that continues to puzzle and inspire philosophers today. In this important new book, Mats Bergman articulates a bold new approach to Peirces semeiotic through a reassessment of the role of rhetoric in his work.

This systematic approach, which is offered as an alternative to formalistic accounts of Peirces project, shows how general sign-theoretical conceptions can plausibly be interpreted as abstractions from everyday communicative experiences and practices. Building on this fallible ground of rhetoric-in-use, Bergman explicates Peirces semeiotic in a way that is conducive to the development of torical inquiry and philosophical criticism.

Following this path, the underpinnings of a uniquely Peircean philosophy of communication is unearthed a pragmatic conception encased in a normative rhetoric, motivated by the continual need to transform and improve our habits of action. Review: 'Mats Bergman has executed a remarkable feat. He has, at once, offered a lucid exposition of Peirce's theory of signs accessible to those unfamiliar with this theory and a carefully argued, textually substantiated re-interpretation of Peirce's position ...

Peirce's Philosophy of Communication makes an extremely important contribution to Peirce no less than communication studies.' - Vincent Colapietro, Liberal Arts Research Professor, Pennsylvania State University, USA