Reminiscences of the voyage on the steamer Adriatic (April 3-13, 1875)
(MS 771)



Spanish translation & annotations

My purpose in this preface is to set forth the general purpose of these essays; and particularly that of the series comprising the first five, which are a revision of six articles printed in the Popular Science Monthly in November 1877 and January, March, April, June, and August, 1878. It happened to me in the former year [it was in 1875] to find myself a ship-mate in a tend days passage across the Atlantic of the celebrated publisher Mr. William H. Appleton. The leisurely voyages of those days gave one time to make acquaintances, even friendships. Mr. Appleton and I used to pace the deck together, and I would talk to him about

 

my studies of the nature of the cogency of scientific reasoning; and he then and there engaged me to write six articles for the Popular Science Monthly of which he was the publisher, furnishing, no doubt, its financial ballast. When the editor, Dr. Edward L. Youmans, learned of the arrangement, it was almost as plain as if it had been said that he did not like it a bit. For Dr. Youmans, a most admirable man, was a Spencerian of the strictest loyalty. Indeed, the spirit of Spencerianism was the offspring of his brain and heart. Now whether it be praise or blame to say what I am about to say, I do not know, but that spirit was not at all what I should call philosophical; it was more like that of a religious sect; and. in the direction in which Spencer was strong, I had nothing to say. In the direction in

 

which all my studies (pot-boiling excepted in part only) , had laid for fifteen or twenty years, as they have even to this day, Spencer was decidedly weak, whatever lauds his worshippers may chant. Believing my articles would do good for the few who would read them, I adhered to my engagement, in spite of Dr. Youmans's ill-concealed disgust. But I sought to make the dose as little nauseous to him as I could; and this is the explanation of some of the weak passages.

 

"Passengers Sailed", New York Times, April 4, 1875

 


Transcription by Max H. Fisch, Peirce Edition Project
Proyecto de investigación "Charles S. Peirce en Europa (1875-76): comunidad científica y correspondencia" (MCI: FFI2011-24340)

Fecha del documento: 8 de febrero 2012
Última actualización: 31 de marzo 2014
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