Comments on: The Metaphysical Club, 5

By: Adam Klug

Adam Klug — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 09:37:31 +0000

I agree with Stephanie to an extent on the cosmic weathering in that it is hard to predict the weather as is its hard to predict the truth. The part I really do not agree with is that the truth just does not clear up and go away. As we explained with pragmatism the truth is what a person believes so there will always be truth. The only problem is there is no way to know what it is until its there.

By: William Schwartz

William Schwartz — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:28:50 +0000

I agree with Wright as he said: “there is no reason to think that the present solar system constitutes the final state of anything” (211). The solar systems is evolving constantly, creating and destroying planets all the time. We know so much more about the solar systems, then he could have imagined. I also agree with him on his religious views. Wright thought was: “If faith satisfied an emotional need, there was nothing more to be said about it, except that no one had the right to impose his or her religion on anyone else” (212). There are many religious groups who want to change the way people think. Most Muslims and Christians want to change people, and push their faith on them. What ever happened to “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged” Luke 6:37. I believe if you brake Gods law let him sort it out, if you brake the law of the land, let THE courts take care of it.

By: Adam Reidinger

Adam Reidinger — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:32:42 +0000

Like Thomas I enjoyed seeing our main “characters” come together in this chapter. I think the importance of the “Metaphysical Club”, and why Menand named the book after it, was found in the way the characters used each others’ ideas and thoughts to progress and adapt their own. An example of this can be seen in the way Peirce calls Wright their “boxing master.” Wright would contest the ideas of Holmes, James, Peirce and that made them sharper in their arguments. These great individual thinkers were able to become even greater when they were able to get together in these type of clubs and share their insights with one another.

By: Matt Streckenbach

Matt Streckenbach — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:22:36 +0000

I believe that it was very smart of Menand too hide the meaning behind this book until this time. Because of the simple fact it build’s up his own evidence without people knowing what is going on. Somewhat tricking the reader into believing his point about Pragmatism. Opening the minds of people to a subject which they would of otherwise been ignorant towards. If he was to simply shown his hand at the beginning of the reading, many would not of cared to read the stories as a example. Rather reversing the order of this fixed what many of us viewed the book. If we had not already know it was a book about pragmatism of course.

By: Josh Kasper

Josh Kasper — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:21:31 +0000

t was interesting reading this part of the Metaphysical Club and how the club was finally formed together in this chapter. Wright reveals his “cosmic weather” which implied that change always happens and knowledge is an understanding to an end. Wright seemed to also rely on Abbot for direction in religion. I also found it interesting as Chris pointed out that Wright, James, and others suffered from depression and alcoholism. At the end, Peirce seems to also convey that everything changes and uses that no two astronomers can make the same observation. It seems like the pragmatic thought relies on evolving thought that is always changing.

By: Thomas Matuszak

Thomas Matuszak — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:55:01 +0000

I like the way in which C. Wright explains the world, as ever change. Wright says we can only predict what will happen next, but even that prediction could turn out to be wrong because of the ever changing world we live in. It is also said that we are in turn just betting on the out come of an event. Both of these ideas are very true, one can only guess (bet) on an event and then watch what the out come is. Even then we can never be certain that it is the end. What I really like in this chapter is that Menand brings all the characters together in the “Metaphysical club”; where we can see how different each and every few is on this way of thinking (pragmatism) really is. Menand really shows use that there is not just one definition that can cover all the pragmatist ideas of thought.

By: Eric Bansemar

Eric Bansemar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:44:38 +0000

Chauncey Wright’s concept of “cosmic weather”, from what I can tell, relates closely to his views on weather and Darwin’s theory of natural selection. Wright saw the weather as something that was a mechanism for change, as was natural selection, and “cosmic weather” was taking these concepts and applying them to people’s lives. People’s lives and subject to outside forces that allowed them to change and go into new directions, which they would otherwise not be able to do on their own. I think.

I do see Menand’s point that Wright may have been a nihilist, as Wright’s concept of “cosmic weather” somewhat flies in the face of prior thought, especially when it came to viewing change as equaling improvement.

By: Chris Gould

Chris Gould — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 18:35:40 +0000

I actually really enjoyed reading this chapter for a few reasons. One I liked learnint about Wright’s idea of cosmic weather. As soon as I starting reading that it made me think about the obvious link it had to Darwinism thought. At the time suggesting that people and species evolve because weather forced them to seemed like a pretty good idea. At least that is what I got out it. I was also intrigued by how not all of them but a few of these intellectuals fell on depressing and alcoholic times. I always wondered if this would happen because these intellects are constantly thinking and disscussing and being disproved. They would totally comit to ideas and those ideas would become their entire life at times. Like when James carried that book around everywhere like a paronoid child with his teddy bear or somthing. I don’t know to me it just seemed like that kind of a breakdown would have to occur for some of these intellects maybe that is just me though.

By: Stephanie Bellile

Stephanie Bellile — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:31:43 +0000

I’m not sure if my explanation of “cosmic weather” will be correct, but I will explain it in a language that portrays what I understand it to be. From what I understand, Wright uses the metaphor “cosmic weather” to explain the fact that there is no absolute truth or certainty in the world. Truth is like weather, because it can change, clear up, and eventually pass away. When you predict the weather there is no certainty, it is subject to change.
In relation to this metaphor’s influence on Holmes, Peirce, and Green, you can refer back to page 227 (more so about Peirce). Wright’s “cosmic weather” is similar to Kant in his example of a physician making a diagnosis based on a patient’s symptoms. The physician is not always right and there is not absolute certainty. This is when Menand bring up Pierce’s belief that all believing is betting. This conclusion made by Pierce could stem from these two examples.
Am I making any sense to anyone?

By: Chase Hedrick

Chase Hedrick — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:29:17 +0000

C. Wright’s idea of “cosmical weather” makes alot of sense when considering the idea that everything is changing, and often occur randomly. Additionally, it accompanies Darwin’s theory of natural selection as well. Even Wright though, who was incredibly insightful and possessed good faith and hopes for society, must have possessed some sort of doubt, frustration, and confusion demonstrated through his alcoholism.
Though Peirce, Holmes, James, and Wright all differed in their certainities about life, I can not necessarily verify one perspective which is more accurate. I think this fact, that one can accept different opinions and possibilities, is a key aspect of pragmatic thought. Pragmatic thought is simply a means to understanding, an end. However the end is uncertain, allowing us to approach it differently.