Mr. Charles S. Peirce is one of those thinkers who in the investigation
of a subject go right down to the bottom of the problem. This
appears to me the more conspicuously so, as the result to which his
investigations lead stand in a strong contrast to my own views. Yet I
cannot help admiring the boldness of his trenchant critique which finds
the difficulties at the point where really the main difficulty of all
philosophical inquiry lies buried. It lies buried, i. e. it does not
appear on the surface of things. If it lay on the surface, our most
superficial thinkers would naturally light on it; but most of them walk
their way in peace, unmolested by the question, Is there any truth in the
idea of necessity. An editorial treatment of this problem may be expected
in a forthcoming number of _The Monist_.