Two of the most important and influential works by Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914) here in one volume. The first marks the beginning of pragmatism. His opening writings, The Fixation of Belief , How to Make Our Ideas Clear , and The Doctrine of Chances , are perhaps his most well-known and influential works, and serve to lay the groundwork for his concept of pragmatism. While any of Peirce's essays stand alone quite well, they become more powerful and prophetic when digested together. The second presents Peirce's innovative essays on scientific metaphysics.

(Peirce was) "one of the most original thinkers and system builders of any time, and certainly the greatest philosopher the United States has ever seen".--Joseph Brent, biographer.