In one version of his essay on ‘The Fixation of Belief’ (see Chapter 7), Peirce suggested that religious authority, or rather the ‘decay’ of its influence, prepares the ground for the emergence of dialogue, or ‘fermentation of ideas,’ where reasoning carries more weight than anyone’s authority.
Let the action of natural preferences be unimpeded, then, and under their influence, let men, conversing together and discussing their opinions, gradually develop such beliefs as are fittest to survive. This is the Method of Dialectic; in philosophy called the a priori method. It springs up from the humus of decayed religions. Greek philosophy first appeared when the myths began to shock people; and modern philosophy trod hard upon the heels of the Reformation.
R 407 (Illustrations of the Logic of Science (Kindle Locations 1989-1992). Open Court. Kindle Edition.)