Charles Peirce, Inference, and Category Theory

Join this Oxford Seminar where David Corfield explores the philosophical contributions of Charles Saunders Peirce (1839-1914) and their connections to category theory. Discover how Peirce's string-diagrammatic logical calculus has influenced category theorists, and examine the thesis that Peirce's triple of inference types—deduction, induction, and abduction—can be understood through category-theoretic concepts of composition, extension, and lift. The seminar also touches on Peirce's broader semiotics and his approach to concept formation. Recorded on February 20, 2025, this hour-long talk bridges philosophy and mathematics through the lens of one of America's most significant philosophical thinkers.