100 Years of Pragmatism: William James's Revolutionary Philosophy

by John J. Stuhr (Editor)

Overview

William James claimed that his Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking would prove triumphant and epoch-making. Today, after more than 100 years, how is pragmatism to be understood? What has been its cultural and philosophical impact? Is it a crucial resource for current problems and for life and thought in the future? John J. Stuhr and the distinguished contributors to this multidisciplinary volume address these questions, situating them in personal, philosophical, political, American, and global contexts. Engaging James in original ways, these 11 essays probe and extend the significance of pragmatism as they focus on four major, overlapping themes: pragmatism and American culture; pragmatism as a method of thinking and settling disagreements; pragmatism as theory of truth; and pragmatism as a mood, attitude, or temperament.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780253003928
Publisher:	Indiana University Press
Publication date:	12/30/2009
Series:	American Philosophy
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	228
File size:	447 KB

About the Author

John J. Stuhr is Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and American Studies and Chair of the Department of Philosophy at Emory University. He is author of John Dewey; Genealogical Pragmatism: Philosophy, Experience, and Community; and Pragmatism, Postmodernism, and the Future of Philosophy. He is co-editor of The Journal of Speculative Philosophy.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

List of Abbreviations ix

Introduction: 100 Years of Pragmatism John J. Stuhr 1

1 James's Pragmatism and American Culture, 1907-2007 James T. Kloppenberg 7

2 The Enemies of Pragmatism Mark Bauerlein 41

3 The Earth Must Resume Its Rights: A Jamesian Genealogy of Immaturity Ross posnock 57

4 Pragmatism and Death: Method vs. Metaphor, Tragedy vs. the Will to Believe William J. Gavin 81

5 William James's Pragmatism: A Distinctly Mixed Bag Bruce Wilshire 96

6 The Deconstruction of Traditional Philosophy in William James's Pragmatism Richard M. Gale 108

7 James on Truth and Solidarity: The Epistemology of Diversity and the Politics of Specificity Jos? M. Medina 124

8 Pragmatism, Nihilism, and Democracy: What Is Called Thinking at the End of Modernity? James Livingston 144

9 Active Tension Linda Simon 173

10 Reflections on the Future of Pragmatism Ruth Anna Putnam 185

11 Looking toward Last Things: James's Pragmatism beyond Its First Century John J. Stuhr 194

List of Contributors 209

Index 213

What People are Saying About This

"This collection of essays uses the recent centenary of William James's Pragmatism (1907) as the occasion for a series of reflections on the continued relevance of James's elaboration of pragmatism. The essays range from considerations of the historical and cultural significance of James's work in the context of American culture in the 100 years since its publication (James T. Kloppenberg, 'James's Pragmatism and American Culture, 1907-2007' and Mark Bauerlein, 'The Enemies of Pragmatism') to assessments of James's philosophical significance in the context of the broader history of philosophy (Richard M. Gale's 'The Deconstruction of Traditional Philosophy in William James's Pragmatism' and Ross Posnock's 'The Earth Must Resume Its Rights: A Jamesian Genealogy of Immaturity') to essays considering more systematic concerns in epistemology, political philosophy, and ethics. The final two essays consider possible futures for James's version of pragmatism. Overall, this volume consists of well-written essays that ought to prompt a thoughtful reconsideration of William James's thought and its place in American culture. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty/researchers. — Choice"

C. R. McCall]]>

This collection of essays uses the recent centenary of William James's Pragmatism (1907) as the occasion for a series of reflections on the continued relevance of James's elaboration of pragmatism. The essays range from considerations of the historical and cultural significance of James's work in the context of American culture in the 100 years since its publication (James T. Kloppenberg, 'James's Pragmatism and American Culture, 1907-2007' and Mark Bauerlein, 'The Enemies of Pragmatism') to assessments of James's philosophical significance in the context of the broader history of philosophy (Richard M. Gale's 'The Deconstruction of Traditional Philosophy in William James's Pragmatism' and Ross Posnock's 'The Earth Must Resume Its Rights: A Jamesian Genealogy of Immaturity') to essays considering more systematic concerns in epistemology, political philosophy, and ethics. The final two essays consider possible futures for James's version of pragmatism. Overall, this volume consists of well-written essays that ought to prompt a thoughtful reconsideration of William James's thought and its place in American culture. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty/researchers. — Choice

C. R. McCall

This collection of essays uses the recent centenary of William James's Pragmatism (1907) as the occasion for a series of reflections on the continued relevance of James's elaboration of pragmatism. The essays range from considerations of the historical and cultural significance of James's work in the context of American culture in the 100 years since its publication (James T. Kloppenberg, 'James's Pragmatism and American Culture, 1907-2007' and Mark Bauerlein, 'The Enemies of Pragmatism') to assessments of James's philosophical significance in the context of the broader history of philosophy (Richard M. Gale's 'The Deconstruction of Traditional Philosophy in William James's Pragmatism' and Ross Posnock's 'The Earth Must Resume Its Rights: A Jamesian Genealogy of Immaturity') to essays considering more systematic concerns in epistemology, political philosophy, and ethics. The final two essays consider possible futures for James's version of pragmatism. Overall, this volume consists of well-written essays that ought to prompt a thoughtful reconsideration of William James's thought and its place in American culture. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty/researchers. — Choice

Editorial Reviews

"This collection of essays uses the recent centenary of William James's Pragmatism (1907) as the occasion for a series of reflections on the continued relevance of James's elaboration of pragmatism. The essays range from considerations of the historical and cultural significance of James's work in the context of American culture in the 100 years since its publication (James T. Kloppenberg, 'James's Pragmatism and American Culture, 1907-2007' and Mark Bauerlein, 'The Enemies of Pragmatism') to assessments of James's philosophical significance in the context of the broader history of philosophy (Richard M. Gale's 'The Deconstruction of Traditional Philosophy in William James's Pragmatism' and Ross Posnock's 'The Earth Must Resume Its Rights: A Jamesian Genealogy of Immaturity') to essays considering more systematic concerns in epistemology, political philosophy, and ethics. The final two essays consider possible futures for James's version of pragmatism. Overall, this volume consists of well-written essays that ought to prompt a thoughtful reconsideration of William James's thought and its place in American culture. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty/researchers. — Choice"—C. R. McCall, Elmira College, October 2010

"Overall, this volume consists of well-written essays that ought to prompt a thoughtful reconsideration of William James's thought and its place in American culture. . . . Recommended.October 2010, Vol. 48, No. 2"—Choice

"A well-balanced, interdisciplinary critical assessment of the ways that James understood pragmatism and the ways that understanding is still valid, helpful, and in need of revision and amplification for today's culture and contemporary needs."—Richard Shusterman, Florida Atlantic University

From the Publisher

A well-balanced, interdisciplinary critical assessment of the ways that James understood pragmatism and the ways that understanding is still valid, helpful, and in need of revision and amplification for today's culture and contemporary needs.

Florida Atlantic University - Richard Shusterman

Overall, this volume consists of well-written essays that ought to prompt a thoughtful reconsideration of William James's thought and its place in American culture. . . . Recommended.October 2010, Vol. 48, No. 2

Choice

This collection of essays uses the recent centenary of William James's Pragmatism (1907) as the occasion for a series of reflections on the continued relevance of James's elaboration of pragmatism. The essays range from considerations of the historical and cultural significance of James's work in the context of American culture in the 100 years since its publication (James T. Kloppenberg, 'James's Pragmatism and American Culture, 1907-2007' and Mark Bauerlein, 'The Enemies of Pragmatism') to assessments of James's philosophical significance in the context of the broader history of philosophy (Richard M. Gale's 'The Deconstruction of Traditional Philosophy in William James's Pragmatism' and Ross Posnock's 'The Earth Must Resume Its Rights: A Jamesian Genealogy of Immaturity') to essays considering more systematic concerns in epistemology, political philosophy, and ethics. The final two essays consider possible futures for James's version of pragmatism. Overall, this volume consists of well-written essays that ought to prompt a thoughtful reconsideration of William James's thought and its place in American culture. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty/researchers. — Choice

C. R. McCall