The Fixation of Belief (Peirce)

The Fixation of Belief is a concept by philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce that explores how people come to hold beliefs. He argues that individuals strive to settle on beliefs that provide certainty and stability in their understanding of the world. This process often involves methods such as experience, authority, or logical reasoning. Once a belief is established, people tend to defend it, resisting change even in the face of new evidence. In the context of general knowledge, this highlights how our convictions can shape our understanding and influence our approach to learning and accepting new information.