Dewey's Critical Pragmatism

by Alison Kadlec

Overview

Dewey's Critical Pragmatism explores the critical potential of John Dewey's democratic vision. By reconstructing critical dimensions of Dewey's approach to epistemology, philosophy, pedagogy, and politics, Alison Kadlec develops a model of pragmatism that speaks to both radical and deliberative democratic theory. Critical pragmatism proceeds from the claim that the point of reflective inquiry is not to establish or justify principles of transcendental universality, but rather to improve our individual and shared capacity to tap into the critical potential of lived experience in a world characterized by change and flux. Dewey's Critical Pragmatism is geared toward recovering aspects of Dewey's work that have been persistently misunderstood or simply neglected. Kadlec posits that it is in the realm of contemporary deliberative democratic theory and practice that the greatest significance of critical pragmatism lies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739115497
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	06/15/2007
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	180
Product dimensions:	6.38(w) x 9.55(h) x 0.73(d)

About the Author

Alison Kadlec is senior research associate and associate director at the Center for Advances in Public Engagement.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 The Epistemology of Critical Pragmatism
Chapter 2 The Philosophy of Critical Pragmatism
Chapter 3 Critical Pedagogy and the Education of Democratic Citizens
Chapter 4 The Politics of Critical Pragmatism
Chapter 5 Critical Pragmatism and Deliberative Democracy

Editorial Reviews

Kadlec has done a great service by bridging gaps between critical theory, pragmatism, and deliberative democracy, bringing these traditions into fruitful conversation. Linking practice together with theory, quality scholarship with political experience, she offers new design principles for deliberative forums. Everyone seeking to understand democratic ideas and practices should read this book. It is a major achievement.

William Caspary

Alison Kadlec draws out the critical power of Dewey's pragmatism, a pragmatism that questions at every turn vested interests, the status quo, entrenched bureaucracies, social inequality, and all other forces that lent weight to Lippmann's complaint that the public was little more than a phantom. Kadlec takes to task those critics who thought that Dewey had nothing concrete to say about power and politics. Beautifully written, this book shows how Dewey's focus on developing social intelligence and attending to live experience paved the way for a conception of democratic politics that we could use now more than ever.

Noelle McAfee

This book by Alison Kadlec is a welcome addition to the scholarship on American philosopher John Dewey and pragmatism.. .. A worthwhile book.

Political Studies Review

Alison Kadlec's splendid work,Dewey's Critical Pragmatism, makes a major contribution to understanding John Dewey as an extremely important democratic theorist and political activist who has much to contribute to critical studies, deliberative democracy, and the larger work of building vital democratic societies for the 21st century. In the process of her pioneering reconceptualization of Dewey's philosophy and practice, she also establishes herself at the front ranks of both Dewey scholars and deliberative democrats.

Harry Boyte

Kadlec has done a great service by bridging gaps between critical theory, pragmatism, and deliberative democracy, bringing these traditions into fruitful conversation. Linking practice together with theory, quality scholarship with political experience, she offers new design principles for deliberative forums. Everyone seeking to understand democratic ideas and practices should read this book. It is a major achievement.--William Caspary, New York University, Gallatin School

Alison Kadlec's splendid work, Dewey's Critical Pragmatism, makes a major contribution to understanding John Dewey as an extremely important democratic theorist and political activist who has much to contribute to critical studies, deliberative democracy, and the larger work of building vital democratic societies for the 21st century. In the process of her pioneering reconceptualization of Dewey's philosophy and practice, she also establishes herself at the front ranks of both Dewey scholars and deliberative democrats.--Harry Boyte, Center for Democracy and Citizenship

Alison Kadlec draws out the critical power of Dewey's pragmatism, a pragmatism that questions at every turn vested interests, the status quo, entrenched bureaucracies, social inequality, and all other forces that lent weight to Lippmann's complaint that the public was little more than a phantom. Kadlec takes to task those critics who thought that Dewey had nothing concrete to say about power and politics. Beautifully written, this book shows how Dewey's focus on developing social intelligence and attending to live experience paved the way for a conception of democratic politics that we could use now more than ever.--Noelle McAfee, Professor of Philosophy, Emory University

From the Publisher