On the Justification Problems: Towards a Peircean Diagnosis and Solution

Responding to the paradox of inference and the related problems in philosophy of logic, this paper argues for the necessity of distinguishing between two different objects of justification: logica utens and logica docens. Then, equipped with Peirce’s critical common-sensist conception of logica utens and his classification of sciences, I propose a diagnosis of and a solution to the problem of justification of logic. I argue that this alternative approach successfully avoids circularity in which most attempts in philosophy of logic have been inescapably trapped. I also anticipate and respond to possible objections to taking a Peircean turn in justifying logic.