November 8th to 11th, 2004

Lafayette de Moraes1 & João Queiroz2, 3
lafas@pucsp.br, lafayette.moraes@uol.com.br
queirozj@dca.fee.unicamp.br
1. PUC-SP
2. UNICAMP
3. UFBA
Brazil

IRREDUCIBILITY OF RELATIONS ACCORDING TO C. S. PEIRCE

ABSTRACT
A formal analysis of Peirce categories constitutes an important investigative step of his work. Many authors stress the precedence of logic-mathematical analyses on normative sciences, metaphysics, and even on phaneroscopy, which employ "mathematical techniques and mathematical results to establish the validity of the categories", as Hookway states (1985, Peirce, Routledge & Kegan Paul). The most important of the successive revisions to which Peirce puts forward the categories is in the domain of logic of relations. At the same time, the existential graphs are the ones that allow (Peirce MS 482) a demonstration of the irreducibility of genuine triadic relations. Our plan here is to introduce the algebra of relations, and the graphic treatment approximately corresponding to the classic functional calculus of first order, especially of a structure of this treatment - teridentity.

KEYWORDS: Algebra of Relations, Existential Graphs, Irreducibility, C.S.Peirce.

Center for Pragmatism Studies
Philosophy Graduate Program
Departament of Philosophy
Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo - Brazil