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'''Categoric.''' Although this subject is historically referred to as the &ldquo;theory of categories&rdquo;, in modern times it is necessary to distinguish it from the mathematical subject of ''category theory'', whose claim to the title is confessedly derived by stealth.  By way of suffering unto the older discipline the freshness of the younger subject, the original study and more general classification of predicates can be referred to as the ''doctrine of categories'' (DOC).  This is a fair description, given that optional schemes of basic categories are commonly taken up, maintained, and transmitted in decidedly catechismic and rigidly dogmatic fashions.
'''Categoric.''' Although this subject is historically referred to as the "theory of categories", in modern times it is necessary to distinguish it from the mathematical subject of "category theory", whose claim to the title is confessedly derived by stealth.  By way of suffering unto the older discipline the freshness of the younger subject, the original study and more general classification of predicates can be referred to as the "doctrine of categories" (DOC).  This is a fair description, given that optional schemes of basic categories are commonly taken up, maintained, and transmitted in decidedly catechismic and rigidly dogmatic fashions.
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Perhaps it is the mind's reluctance to revive the uncertainties and to relive the struggles that these schemes were made to resolve, but once the fundamental categories are settled it is nearly impossible to revise them, however poorly they come to fit the current circumstances of life.  No matter how original the thinking that leads up to a site where a stable foundation can be poured, the foundation itself is typically laid down as if it were cut from inalterable stone.
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Perhaps it is the mind's reluctance to revive the uncertainties and to relive the struggles that these schemes were made to resolve, but once the fundamental categories are settled it is nearly impossible to revise them, however poorly they come to fit the current circumstances of life.  No matter how original the thinking that leads up to a site where a stable foundation can be poured, the foundation itself is typically laid down as if it were cut from unalterable stone.
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I even hope that what I have done may prove a first step toward the resolution of one of the main problems of logic, that of producing a method for the discovery of methods in mathematics. (Peirce, CP 3.364).
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<p>I even hope that what I have done may prove a first step toward the resolution of one of the main problems of logic, that of producing a method for the discovery of methods in mathematics.</p>
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| align="right" | C.S. Peirce, CP 3.364
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'''Methodeutic.'''  This subject, that C.S. Peirce gave the alternate titles of "speculative rhetoric" or "formal rhetoric", because it is a science that "would treat of the formal conditions of the force of symbols, or their power of appealing to a mind, that is, of their reference in general to interpretants" (CP 1.444 & 1.559), and that he assigned the task to find "a method of discovering methods" (CP 2.108 & 3.364), is one that clearly has a special relevance to the pursuit of an inquiry into inquiry.
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'''Methodeutic.'''  This subject, that C.S. Peirce gave the alternate titles of &ldquo;speculative rhetoric&rdquo; or &ldquo;formal rhetoric&rdquo;, because it is a science that &rdquo;would treat of the formal conditions of the force of symbols, or their power of appealing to a mind, that is, of their reference in general to interpretants&rdquo; (CP&nbsp;1.444 and 1.559), and that he assigned the task to find &ldquo;a method of discovering methods&rdquo; (CP&nbsp;2.108 and 3.364), is one that clearly has a special relevance to the pursuit of an inquiry into inquiry.
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<pre>
 
In an effort to gradually begin formalizing these issues, I introduce the concept of a "point of development" (POD).  This notion is intended to capture a particular moment in the history of a system or its agent, as it is reflected in the systems of propositions associated with each POD.  Relative to a particular POD there can be distinguished, though neither exclusively nor exhaustively, two types of propositions that are said to be "associated" with it.  Roughly speaking, these types of propositions reflect the thoughts that are "applied" to a POD and the thoughts that are "attached" to a POD, respectively.
 
In an effort to gradually begin formalizing these issues, I introduce the concept of a "point of development" (POD).  This notion is intended to capture a particular moment in the history of a system or its agent, as it is reflected in the systems of propositions associated with each POD.  Relative to a particular POD there can be distinguished, though neither exclusively nor exhaustively, two types of propositions that are said to be "associated" with it.  Roughly speaking, these types of propositions reflect the thoughts that are "applied" to a POD and the thoughts that are "attached" to a POD, respectively.
  
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