Letter from William James to Daniel Coit Gilman
(Cambridge, MA, 25.11.1875)


Spanish translation & annotations

 

 

Cambridge, Mass.
Nov 25. 75

Dear Sir

I take the liberty of addressing you to suggest that, in case the Chair or Chairs of Logic & mental science in your new university are not yet filled, you would find it well, in considering different candidates, not to neglect the titles of Mr. Charles S. Peirce of this place.

In case you are unacquainted with his name, I will say that he is about 36 years old, a son

 

of Prof. Benjamin Peirce, thoroughly trained in mathematics and what is rarer in mental philosophers, thoroughly trained in physical science, having been led by circumstances to work practically for some time at Chemistry and afterwards at Astronomy in the Harvard Observatory. For two years or more he has been in the Employ of the U. S. Coast Survey and is now in Europe completing some work on the determination of Gravity which he began here. His darling studies however have always been philosophical, and in the dearth among us of sound original investigators in that field, I cannot

 

help deeming it unfortunate that such a man as he is practically kept out of it. It is my interest in the advance of mental science alone, (to tell the truth,) which urges me to take up my pen as I am now doing in mr Peirce's behalf. I don't think it extravagant praise to say that of late years there has been no intellect in Cambridge of such general power & originality as his, unless one should except the late Chauncey Wright and effectively, Peirce will always rank higher than Wright.

Mr. Peirce's published papers (so far as I can now recall

 

 

them), are as follows

3 Papers on Logic, Proceedings of American Acad. of A. & S. 1867

3 Articles in the 2nd(?) vol. of the Journal of Spec. Philos. 1869(?) Logic of Relatives. Memoirs of Amer. Acad. 1870

On Application of logical Analysis to multiple Algebra. Proceedings of ditto 1875

A long and important investigation on Stellar Photometry. Memoirs of ditto 1875

I feel confident he wd. do as great honor to any University which might secure him as Prof. W. S. Jevons, e. g. does to Owens College.

 

Both Jevons & W. K. Clifford in England know him personally & would probably certify to you the high character of his work. The latter alluded to his photometric investigation in very flattering terms, in one of his recent Fornightly Review articles (The First & Last Catastrophe, I think). The former speaks of him no less eulogistically in his "principles of Science" vol I, p 27, note. The best sponsor he could have here, the late C. Wright is unfortunately gone, but I can certify that Wright thought more of his ability than of that of any one he knew.

 

 

His purely philosophic activity was known to comparatively few, but I think Wm. T. Harris of St. Louis, (Editor of the Journ. of Speculative Philosophy,) Francis E. Abbot of Boston (Editor of the Index), Professor Bowen & John Fiske Esq (of Harvard College) with Prof. N. St. J. Green (of the Boston University Law School) would speak of him no less warmly than I do, in his capacity of a philosophic thinker.

Concerning his general character & capacities, Dean Gurney & Professor N. S. Shaler of Harvard College & Mr Alex. Agassiz will

 

 

perhaps serve as references out of the many that might be suggested to you.

Mr Peirce is not privy to this step of mine; nor am I sure that he would now accept a professorship, although a few years ago he wd. gladly have done so. Very likely your wants in that particular may be already supplied; but in any event I need not apologize for troubling you about a matter which concerns your interest much more than my own.

Pray do not consider that any reply to this communication is called for. Whether it bear

 

 

 

fruit or not, I remain

Very respectfully yours

Wm. James
Instructor in Physiology
Harvard College

President Gilman
Hopkins University
Baltimore

 



Una de las ventajas de los textos en formato electrónico respecto de los textos impresos es que pueden corregirse con gran facilidad mediante la colaboración activa de los lectores que adviertan erratas, errores o simplemente mejores transcripciones. En este sentido agradeceríamos que se enviaran todas las sugerencias y correcciones a sbarrena@unav.es
Proyecto de investigación "Charles S. Peirce en Europa (1875-76): comunidad científica y correspondencia" (MCI: FFI2011-24340)

Fecha del documento: 19 de septiembre 2016
Última actualización: 5 de septiembre 2018

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