Peirce and Racism: Biographical and Philosophical Considerations

This address briefly explores biographical evidence in support of the claim that Charles S. Peirce, following and influenced by his father Benjamin, embraced and defended discernibly racist beliefs and attitudes. In happy contrast to such considerations, it then offers an assessment of some of Peirce’s philsophical ideas in terms of their contemporary relevance for understanding and resisting racism in its various manifestations. Such ideas are scattered throughout his writings about a variety of topics, but his mature investigations in phenomenology provide a useful starting point for these deliberations.