Pragmatism Books

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPreface | ix Parenthetical References | xv Prolegomena | 1 1 A Brief History of Theosemiotic | 15 2 Signs, Selves, and Semiosis | 43 3 Love in a Universe of Chance | 75 4 Theology as Inquiry, Therapy, Praxis | 107 5 Communities of Interpretation | 155 6 Rules for Discernment | 192 7 On Prayer and the Spirit of Pragmatism | 227 Postlude: The Play of Musement | 259 Acknowledgments | 265 Notes | 269 Index | 301

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Book SynopsisOriginally published in 1963. The essays in this volume are critical and, with one exception, directed against the philosophic movement of pragmatism. The Thirteen Pragmatisms is an exercise in logical analysis and is a challenge to a group of philosophers who have taken on a collective name to show how their apparent diversities are to be reconciled. Few philosophers would call themselves orthodox followers of this train of thought, so these essays can be studied without a sense of personal injury that deadens the critical faculty and obscures insight. In The Thirteen Pragmatisms and Other Essays, logical technique is on display: the author's keenness in spotting double meanings and his ability to rephrase them in univalent form. This collection of essays should afford students of philosophy a set of cases in which they need not take sides but which give them an analytical method they can practice themselves on contemporary issues. The fact that these essays are on the whole critical Table of ContentsPreface Chapter 1. The Thirteen PragmatismsChapter 2. Pragmatism and RealismChapter 3. Pragmatism and TheologyChapter 4. William James as PhilosopherChapter 5. James's Does Consciousness Exist?Chapter 6. Pragmatism Versus the PragmatistChapter 7. Pragmatism as lnteractionism Chapter 8. Pragmatism and the New Materialism Chapter 9. The Anomaly of Knowledge Index

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Book SynopsisIn this comprehensive introduction, Albert Spencer presents a new story of the origins and development of American pragmatism, from its emergence through the interaction of European and Indigenous American cultures to its contemporary status as a diverse, vibrant, and contested global philosophy. Spencer explores the intellectual legacies of American pragmatism’s founders, Peirce and James, but also those of newly canonical figures such as Addams, Anzaldúa, Cordova, DuBois, and others crucial to its development. He presents the diversity of pragmatisms, old and new, by weaving together familiar and unfamiliar authors through shared themes, such as fallibilism, meliorism, pluralism, verification, and hope. Throughout, Spencer reveals American pragmatism's engagement with the consequences of US political hegemony, as versions of pragmatism arise in response to both the tragic legacies and the complicated benefits of colonialism. American Pragmatism is an indispensable guide for undergraduate students taking courses in pragmatism or American philosophy, for scholars wishing to develop their understanding of this thriving philosophical tradition, or for curious readers interested in the genealogy of American thought.Trade Review“This book is well written, extensively researched, broad in scope, and does an admirably good job of expanding the tent of American pragmatism (as it were) to include a variety of thinkers and movements who are not always sufficiently appreciated. It will be well received by students and scholars of American philosophy and pragmatism.”David Rondel, University of Nevada, Reno​ “More than an introduction or a survey, this book makes the case for pragmatism’s diversity and richness. From its Indigenous roots to its inter-American and global reach, pragmatism is presented as a philosophical tradition that continues to be of contemporary relevance to contemporary problems.”Gregory Pappas, Texas A&M University"There is a lot to learn and to enjoy in Spencer's book about pragmatism, its history, and continued influence. I hope the book will encourage some of its readers to, in Spencer's words, 'devote their lives' to pragmatist thought or, more modestly and pragmatically, to use pragmatism as a tool for better understanding their world and themselves."Midwest Book ReviewTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments An Introduction to American Pragmatism 1 Fallibilism and the Classical Pragmatists 2 Meliorism and the Chicago Pragmatists 3 Pluralism and the Harvard Pragmatists 4 Verification and the Analytic Pragmatists 5 Hope and the Visionary Pragmatists Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This is indispensable reading for students and scholars of pragmatism as well as those working in Hispanic philosophy. Highly recommended." -Choice "Pragmatism in the Americas examines new and unexplored intersections between American philosophy and Spanish and Latin American thought, advancing a deeper understanding of the Hispanic World's philosophical contribution to and relationship with the evolution of Western thought." -- -Bernardo Cantens Moravian College "This book holds real promise for awakening North American philosophers to the enormous breadth of Spanish-language Pragmatist philosophy. This is one of the best contributions to the advancement of American philosophy in a long time." -- -David O'Hara Augustana College "This collection provides the definitive resource, long overdue, on 'American' philosophy in a full sense. And the essays are full of surprises, detailing both the history of pragmatism's reception in the hispanic world, and the commonalities and differences between the Latin American and north American approaches. They also explain the multiple reasons philosophy itself today more than ever needs this tradition in order to resuscitate its crisis-ridden methodology and its standing in the public domain." -- -Linda Alcoff Hunter College, CUNY

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Book SynopsisWritten in an easy, often witty, style Documentality revises Foucault’s late concept of the “ontology of actuality” into the project of an “ontological laboratory,” thereby reinventing philosophy as a pragmatic activity that is directly applicable to our everyday life.Trade Review"Documentality re-energizes the traditional philosophical debate on realism by contextualizing this problematic within the field of new media and positioning it in the wake of the momentous philosophical contributions of Derrida and Foucault." -- -Alessia Ricciardi Northwestern University "The growth of modern civilization depends to a surprising degree on the power of documents. Law, commerce, science, government all depend on documents to transcend the constraints of pre-modern, face-to-face communication. Yet documents, thus far, have played only a tiny role in the work of social ontologists. Maurizio Ferraris shows in this brilliant new work how documents can be used as a springboard for an entirely new view of the structure of social reality -- in which documents form the very tracks along which the engines of our mental and social lives run." -- -Barry Smith Director of the National Center for Ontological Research (NCOR) "A clear, fast-paced, truly exciting book." -- -Jean-Michel Rabate University of Pennsylvania "The most stimulating feature of the book is not so much that documents allow Ferraris to develop an ontology, but rather that his ontology allows him to understand and to help us to understand what documents are and what society is." -- -Umberto Eco author of The Name of the Rose

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Book SynopsisJosiah Royce and William James lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Irving Street, just two doors apart, and Charles Peirce grew up only blocks away. John Dewey was born and educated in nearby Vermont. These four great thinkers shared more than geographic space; they engaged in a series of formative philosophical discussions. By tracing the interactions of Royce (18551916) with James, Peirce, and Dewey, Oppenheim re-imagines pragmatism in a way that highlights the late Royce''s role as mediator and favors the seed-plant image of O. W. Holmes, Jr., over the corridor image of Papini.Josiah Royce emphasized that communities of all sizesranging from families to townsneeded reverence for the relations of life not only to thrive but to survive. This theme permeates the dialectic of Royce's interactions with Peirce, James, and Dewey. Oppenheim analyzes the agreement and disagreement of these thinkers on the method and content of philosophy, skepticism and intelligibility, and nominTrade Review“This meticulous and thorough book will stimulate new insights into the thought and life of Josiah Royce as well as into the ideas and experiences of three other giants in American philosophy, Charles Sanders Peirce, William James, and John Dewey. This book will be a valuable resource to all who wish to explore the nuances and depths of the lives and philosophical work of these four giants in American thought.” —The Review of Metaphysics“In a time when the patience for scholarship has in large part been put to flight by the need to publish quickly and widely, Oppenheim has taken the time to produce a fascinating provocative look at Josiah Royce's relations with the ‘big three’ American pragmatists-Charles Pierce, William James, and John Dewey. . . . Those seriously interested in the history and culture of pragmatism should read Reverence for the Relations of Life.” —Transactions of the C.S. Peirce Society“Oppenheim’s book signals a change . . . in the contested story of American pragmatism. It represents an opening for a deeper exploration of the origins and meaning of pragmatism in relation to religion and in particular Christianity.” —Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews“. . . a carefully researched, clearly written history of American pragmatism centered on the development of Josiah Royce's thought and his connections with other turn-of-the-century American philosophers. . . . Recommended.” —Choice“This book . . . interpret(s) American pragmatism through the prism of Josiah Royce by focusing on his personal and philosophical interactions with Peirce, James, and Dewey. . . . [A] well-researched and scholarly work by one of the great experts in the field.” —Catholic Library World“Frank M. Oppenheim’s book is a study of the personal and intellectual encounters Josiah Royce had with his contemporary philosophical colleagues Charles S. Peirce, William James, and John Dewey. . . . This book is as much a work of philosophy as it is an intellectual history. Oppenheim offers an interpretation of Royce’s philosophy organized around the theme of ‘reverence for the relations of life,’ which he argues permeates Royce’s philosophy and, especially, his late writings. . . . Oppenheim has made a strong case that Royce was indeed a pragmatist of a Peircean orientation and that his philosophy needs to be better known and understood if the full story of the development of pragmatism is to be written.” —American Historical Review“This volume is . . . a lengthy appreciation of the philosopher James Royce. . . . The book has three parts in which the author compares Royce to Charles Peirce, then to William James, and finally to John Dewey. . . . Each part mixes biographical information on each thinker and analysis of contrasting doctrines.” —The Journal of American History“Frank Oppenheim provides us with a rich, extraordinarily informed and judicious version of the kaleidoscopic relations undergone by C.S. Peirce, W. James, J. Royce, and J. Dewey. They represent one of the most creative clusters in the history of philosophy. Oppenheim refreshingly places Royce as the centerpiece, resulting in a work of impeccable scholarship and wisely tolerant intellectual biography.” —John J. McDermott, Texas A&M University“Climaxing his long, prolific career as the preeminent interpreter of Royce’s philosophy, Frank M. Oppenheim has achieved what rightly is called his magnum opus. Reverence for the Relations of Life is a learned and lucid study of Royce, in relation to Peirce, James, and Dewey. Effectively refuting earlier interpreters, such as Ralph Barton Perry, who have marginalized Royce, Oppenheim places him at the center of thought in late-19th and early-20th century America. The book is meticulously researched and it sparkles with fresh insight.” —John Clendenning, California State University, Northridge

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Book SynopsisJosiah Royce and William James lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Irving Street, just two doors apart, and Charles Peirce grew up only blocks away. John Dewey was born and educated in nearby Vermont. These four great thinkers shared more than geographic space; they engaged in a series of formative philosophical discussions. By tracing the interactions of Royce (18551916) with James, Peirce, and Dewey, Oppenheim re-imagines pragmatism in a way that highlights the late Royce''s role as mediator and favors the seed-plant image of O. W. Holmes, Jr., over the corridor image of Papini.Josiah Royce emphasized that communities of all sizesranging from families to townsneeded reverence for the relations of life not only to thrive but to survive. This theme permeates the dialectic of Royce's interactions with Peirce, James, and Dewey. Oppenheim analyzes the agreement and disagreement of these thinkers on the method and content of philosophy, skepticism and intelligibility, and nominTrade Review“This meticulous and thorough book will stimulate new insights into the thought and life of Josiah Royce as well as into the ideas and experiences of three other giants in American philosophy, Charles Sanders Peirce, William James, and John Dewey. This book will be a valuable resource to all who wish to explore the nuances and depths of the lives and philosophical work of these four giants in American thought.” —The Review of Metaphysics“In a time when the patience for scholarship has in large part been put to flight by the need to publish quickly and widely, Oppenheim has taken the time to produce a fascinating provocative look at Josiah Royce's relations with the ‘big three’ American pragmatists-Charles Pierce, William James, and John Dewey. . . . Those seriously interested in the history and culture of pragmatism should read Reverence for the Relations of Life.” —Transactions of the C.S. Peirce Society“Oppenheim’s book signals a change . . . in the contested story of American pragmatism. It represents an opening for a deeper exploration of the origins and meaning of pragmatism in relation to religion and in particular Christianity.” —Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews“. . . a carefully researched, clearly written history of American pragmatism centered on the development of Josiah Royce's thought and his connections with other turn-of-the-century American philosophers. . . . Recommended.” —Choice“This book . . . interpret(s) American pragmatism through the prism of Josiah Royce by focusing on his personal and philosophical interactions with Peirce, James, and Dewey. . . . [A] well-researched and scholarly work by one of the great experts in the field.” —Catholic Library World“Frank M. Oppenheim’s book is a study of the personal and intellectual encounters Josiah Royce had with his contemporary philosophical colleagues Charles S. Peirce, William James, and John Dewey. . . . This book is as much a work of philosophy as it is an intellectual history. Oppenheim offers an interpretation of Royce’s philosophy organized around the theme of ‘reverence for the relations of life,’ which he argues permeates Royce’s philosophy and, especially, his late writings. . . . Oppenheim has made a strong case that Royce was indeed a pragmatist of a Peircean orientation and that his philosophy needs to be better known and understood if the full story of the development of pragmatism is to be written.” —American Historical Review“This volume is . . . a lengthy appreciation of the philosopher James Royce. . . . The book has three parts in which the author compares Royce to Charles Peirce, then to William James, and finally to John Dewey. . . . Each part mixes biographical information on each thinker and analysis of contrasting doctrines.” —The Journal of American History“Frank Oppenheim provides us with a rich, extraordinarily informed and judicious version of the kaleidoscopic relations undergone by C.S. Peirce, W. James, J. Royce, and J. Dewey. They represent one of the most creative clusters in the history of philosophy. Oppenheim refreshingly places Royce as the centerpiece, resulting in a work of impeccable scholarship and wisely tolerant intellectual biography.” —John J. McDermott, Texas A&M University“Climaxing his long, prolific career as the preeminent interpreter of Royce’s philosophy, Frank M. Oppenheim has achieved what rightly is called his magnum opus. Reverence for the Relations of Life is a learned and lucid study of Royce, in relation to Peirce, James, and Dewey. Effectively refuting earlier interpreters, such as Ralph Barton Perry, who have marginalized Royce, Oppenheim places him at the center of thought in late-19th and early-20th century America. The book is meticulously researched and it sparkles with fresh insight.” —John Clendenning, California State University, Northridge

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Book SynopsisPragmatism and its consequences are central issues in American politics. This title explores the subject and makes a case for adopting a pragmatist approach to democratic politics - and for giving priority to democracy in the process of selecting and reforming political institutions.Trade Review"Overall, this study is a deeply considered, well argued contribution to contemporary debates about the relationship between democratic processes and context in normative political theory."--Hussein Banai, Political Studies Review "The Priority of Democracy is the result of a long and productive partnership between two serious and seriously smart scholars. Much in the book will be familiar to readers who have been following the article trail of these two over the last 20 years. But nothing to my knowledge puts it all together into a full theory of democracy like this book. Unlike so many books these days, it is not a collection of their greatest hits marketed as a coherent whole. It is a real book that benefits from being read from beginning to end."--Simone Chambers, Perspectives on Politics "[T]he book is a significant contribution to the academic literature on democratic politics and institutional design, one that will hopefully inspire critical response and perhaps some experimentation with democratic institutions."--Shane J. Ralston, Philosophy in ReviewTable of ContentsPreface ix Part One Chapter 1: Preliminaries 1 Chapter 2: Pragmatism and the Problem of Institutional Design 25 Chapter 3: The Appeal of Decentralization 51 Part Two Chapter 4: The Priority of Democracy and the Burden of Justification 93 Chapter 5: Reconsidering the Role of Political Argument in Democratic Politics 128 Chapter 6: Refining Reflexivity 167 Part Three Chapter 7: Formal Conditions: Institutionalizing Liberal Guarantees 193 Chapter 8: Substantive Conditions: Pragmatism and Effectiveness 222 Chapter 9: Conclusion 256 References 287 Index 307

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Book SynopsisExplores the cultural work of two important early-twentieth-century writers: the poet William Carlos Williams and the educator/philosopher John Dewey, both key figures in American democracy.Placing the philosopher John Dewey and the poet William Carlos Williams together-two important figures of twentieth-century American culture-this book examines the ambitions and failings of progressive liberal culture during the first half of the twentieth century. This book shows that, while their work ostensibly shares little in common, Williams and Dewey share the ambition to realize the radical potential of a democratic cultural politics. Including close readings of texts like Williams''s Spring and All, In the American Grain, and Paterson, and Dewey''s Individualism Old and New and Art as Experience, Beck offers an important contribution to current debates over the relationship between politics and cultural production.

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Book SynopsisCritically engages the work of American philosopher Richard J. Bernstein.The Pragmatic Century critically assesses the significance of American philosopher Richard J. Bernstein''s intellectual contributions. Written by scholars who share with Bernstein a combined interest in the American pragmatic tradition and contemporary religious thought, the essays explore such diverse topics as Bernstein''s place as an interpreter of both American and continental thought, the possibility of system building and analysis in an antimetaphysical age, the potential for theological and ethical reinterpretation in contemporary society, and much more. Included are not only responses by Bernstein to each essay, but also two new essays by Bernstein himself that orient readers to the central role pragmatism has played throughout the last century and also provide an encomium to the continuing value of democratic ideals at a time when those ideals are threatened on many different fronts.

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Book SynopsisAndrew Feffer provides a richly textured group portrait of John Dewey and his colleagues George Herbert Mead and James Hayden Tufts against the backdrop of Chicago's social history.Trade ReviewIn this superb book, Andrew Feffer has provided us with the best account we have of this school and its thought and has placed the work of the Chicago philosophers in a set of illuminating contexts.... An important addition to a growing and increasingly sophisticated literature on pragmatism and its possibilities. -- Robert B. Westbrook * History of Education Quarterly *

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Book SynopsisReinventing Pragmatism examines the force of the new pragmatisms, from the emergence of Rorty's and Putnam's basic disagreements of the 1970s until the turn of the century.Trade Review"In this often brilliant treatment of the first- and second-wave pragmatists, Joseph Margolis displays a knack for weaving together a complex history and an important contemporary philosophical debate. Margolis's analyses are bold, original, and intellectually exciting. He has succeeded in spinning out a narrative that is both insightful and entertaining." -- Armen T. Marsoobian, Professor of Philosophy, Southern Connecticut State University, and Editor in Chief, Metaphilosophy"Margolis's account of pragmatism's relation to modern philosophy is useful and illuminating." -- John McGowan, University of North Carolina, Perspectives on Politics 2:1, March 2004"Reinventing Pragmatism is a memorable, intelligent, and stylish book. Joseph Margolis puts his finger on the central nerve in the conflict between Richard Rorty and Hilary Putnam." -- Russell Goodman, University of New Mexico"With this book, Joseph Margolis steps into the fray over what the revival of pragmatism should entail, and how it may best confront current realist trends.... There is much in Margolis's work that resonates well with current sociological approaches to knowledge and belief... and it would be interesting to see just how Margolis's relativism might be of use in providing philosophical cover for the sociology of knowledge." -- Rod Nelson, McGill University, Contemporary Sociology 33:2Table of ContentsPrologue: Reconstruction in pragmatism -- Cartesian realism and the revival of pragmatism -- Richard Rorty : philosophy by other means -- Anticipating Dewey's advantage -- John Dewey : the metaphysics of existence -- Relativism, pragmatism, and realism -- Last word : a touch of prophecy.

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Book SynopsisIn the first book on the development ofJohn Dewey's ethical thought, Jennifer Welchman revises the prevalent interpretation of his ethics. Her clear and engaging account traces the history of Dewey's distinctive moral philosophy from its roots in idealism during the 1890s through the pragmatist approach of his 1922 work, Human Nature and...Trade ReviewThis account of the development of Dewey's ethics, with an emphasis on his early and middle writings, is the first book-length treatment of this subject. Welchman... follows Dewey's ethical thought from its beginnings in idealism through the mature statement of his pragmatic instrumentalism in Human Nature and Conduct.... A lucid, fair, and meticulously researched analysis of the development of Dewey's ethical thought and a valuable resource for anyone working in American philosophy or cultural studies. * Choice *Welchman is an excellent interpreter of the early and middle Dewey... fresh and provocative... Welchman does what few Deweyan interpreters have done; she analyzes his thinking. * Metaphilosophy *Welchman's... account of Dewey's ethics moves along briskly. It is compact without affecting quality. -- Abraham Edel * International Studies in Philosophy *A careful, incisive, and thorough study.... It is based almost exclusively on Dewey's own writings; secondary works are cited rarely and chiefly for the purpose of rebutting them. Historians interested in ideas will find here an internalist history of the development of a major thinker. * Journal of American History *

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Book SynopsisA paradox of surface and depth pervades the field of aesthetics. How can art''s surface meanings and qualities be properly appreciated without understanding the cultural context that shapes their creation and perception? But exploring such underlying cultural conditions challenges the perception of thosequalities and meanings of aesthetic surface that constitute the captivating power of art. If aesthetics deals with both surface and depth, impassioned immediacy yet also critical distance of judgment, how can this doubleness be held together in one philosophical vision?In his new book, Richard Shusterman explores the dialectics of surface and depth by examining key issues in the philosophy of art and culturefrom the logic of interpretation and evaluation to the roots of taste and convention, from the meanings of aesthetic purity and immediacy to the role of nature, theory, and history in our experience and understanding of art. In treating these topics, Shusterman combines the methodTrade ReviewIn Shusterman's discourse, instrumentalities are always parts of the ends they create. His pragmatism is therefore best described as reconstructive, advancing and refashioning the experiential realm.... This is pragmatism at its best, and what this discursive mode accomplishes is a deeper understanding that in turn... leads to better experiences and end results.... The beauty of this methodology is that it intelligent avoids the danger of a naive pragmatism... that is all surface manifesto for action, while it also avoids the danger of a pragmatism that locks itself into deep abstract theory with no sense of how it gets redirected toward practice and experience. Because Surface and Depth manages to do this with such élan and perspicacity, I situate it among the best, most interesting, and thought-provoking philosophical kind of work currently taking place. -- Gustavo Guerra, George Washington University * Journal of Speculative Philosophy *Philosophy texts are not the usual fare on our book review menu. This reviewer now feels that we might wish to broaden our diet. In Shusterman's book we find that rare example of a theoretical text that is palatable, even enjoyable for the non-philosopher reader. But best of all, by constructing a new ground for criticism he provides cogent underpinnings for our studies in vernacular architecture. -- Bryon E. Bronston * Vernacular Architecture Newsletter *Those familiar with Shusterman's work will find here the critical insight, careful argument, and clever prose they expect. Those who have not before had the pleasure of reading him will find there is no one better at distilling and analyzing contemporary aesthetics: the chapters on Croce, Wittgenstein, Alain Locke, T. S. Eliot, and Bourdieu are exempla of analytic sensitivity combined with the principle of charity.... Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates and above. * Choice *Surface and Depth is an excellent text, combining lucidity and keen analytical thinking with an ability to challenge preconceptions, to make surprising connections and to open up new avenues of enquiry. I would encourage anyone interested in aesthetics, arts criticism, cultural theory and philosophy to read this book and to enter into a richly rewarding engagement with a stimulating and lively mind. -- John Danvers, University of Plymouth, UK * Consciousness, Literature and the Arts *

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Book SynopsisAlthough long considered the most distinctive American contribution to philosophy, pragmatism - with its problem-solving emphasis and its contingent view of truth - lost popularity in mid-century after the advent of World War II, the horror of the Holocaust, and the dawning of the Cold War. This work provides an introduction to pragmatism.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: Pragmatism Then and Now / Morris Dickstein What Difference Does Pragmatism Make? The View From Philosophy Pragmatism as Romantic Polytheism / Richard Rorty Pragmatism and Realism / Hilary Putnam Response to Hilary Putnam’s “Pragmatism and Realism” / Sidney Morgenbesser The Moral Impulse / Ruth Anna Putnam What’s the Use of Calling Emerson a Pragmatist? / Stanley Cavell Pragmatism and the Remaking of Social Thought Pragmatism: An Old Name for Some New Ways of Thinking? / James T. Kloppenberg Pragmatism and Democracy: Reconstructing the Logic of John Dewey’s Faith / Robert B. Westbrook Community in the Pragmatic Tradition / Richard J. Bernstein Another Pragmatism: Alain Locke, Critical “Race” Theory, and the Politics of Culture / Nancy Fraser Going Astray, Going Forward: Du Boisian Pragmatism and Its Lineage / Ross Posnock The Inspiration of Pragmatism: Some Personal Remarks / Hans Joas The Missing Pragmatic Revival in American Social Science / Alan Wolfe Pragmatism and Its Limits / John Patrick Diggins Pragmatism and Law Pragmatic Adjudication / Richard A. Posner Freestanding Legal Pragmatism / Thomas C. Grey What’s Pragmatic about Legal Pragmatism? / David Luban Pragmatism and Law: A Response to David Luban / Richard Rorty It’s a Positivist, It’s a Pragmatist, It’s a Codifier! Reflections on Nietzsche and Stendhal / Richard H. Weisberg Pragmatism, Pluralism, and Legal Interpretations: Posner’s and Rorty’s Justice without Metaphysics Meets Hate Speech / Michael Rosenfeld Pragmatism, Culture, and Art Why Do Pragmatists Want to Be Like Poets? / Richard Poirier Pragmatists and Poets: A Response to Richard Poirier / Louis Menand The Novelist of Everyday Life / David Bromwich When Mind Is a Verb: Thomas Eakins and the Work of Doing / Ray Carney Religion and the Recent Revival of Pragmatism, Giles Gunn Afterword Truth and Toilets: Pragmatism and the Practices of Life / Stanely Fish Selected Bibliography Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisTraces the trajectory of the author's philosophical career through a selection of his essays. This work addresses specific issues in American thought and culture. It constitutes a mosaic of his philosophy, showing its roots in an American conception of experience.Trade ReviewMore than any other current writer, John J. McDermott is widely recognized as the preeminent interpreter and the living bearer of the classical American philosophical tradition--Emerson, James, Royce, Dewey. Combining that tradition with Camusian existentialism, McDermott grabs us by the neck, drags us from the anemic abstractions of the academy, back to the muck of the everyday, and reminds us not only of philosophy's unfathomable power to shatter worlds and to shake us to the very core of our precarious existence, but also of how philosophy nourishes souls and communities. This is a ride, not for the faint of heart, on which McDermott has taken tens-of-thousands of students during his lengendary career and now, thanks to this collection of his most important pieces, masterfully selected and edited by Douglas Anderson, the ride is available to many more. Hop aboard. Your life, and your sense of what it means to philosophize as an American, will never be the same. -- -Ken Stikkers Southern Illinois University "John McDermott's essays help us understand the mind of America by laying bare its heart. In print and in the classroom, McDermott is a great teacher, a marveloulsy sensitive human being and an exemplary American. These essays, some of them legendary, revive and develop the grand achievements of Emerson and James." -- -John Lachs Vanderbilt University "Fresh and down-to-earth... Reflects a deep and attentive familiarity with the history of thought, as well as a sensitive and penetrating understanding of American history and culture." -- -Jacqueline Kegley California State University, Bakersfield "McDermott's personal style, beautifully seeded with anecdotes and his own experience, make this book as dramatic as the title." -- -Peter N. Carroll Stanford University " ... Not only provides an aperture in the philosophical dialogue with Foucault's thought, but it is first and foremost a seminal work in the field of philosophy and the humanities as a whole." -Foucault Studies "In the American tradition of Jonathan Edwards, Ralph Waldo Emerson and William James, John J. McDermott is both an original philosopher and a literary figure of distinction." -- -Peter H. Hare State University of New York "John J. McDermott's words, spoken or written, fall like torrents or hang like mist as he explores the themes of human experience. His ideas, tinctured with medieval philosophy and snips of baseball, drawing upon his familiarity with the artist's studio and the physician's office, help us to make the connections necessary to celebrate and criticize the diverse aspects of our common journey. Readers of this broad selection of McDermott's writings will recognize his sensitivity to experience and his power as a teacher." -- -James Campbell University of Toledo

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Book SynopsisPresents John Dewey as very much at home in the busy mix of contemporary philosophy - as a thinker whose work, more than fifty years after his death, still furnishes fresh insights into philosophical debates. This book provides novel interpretations of Dewey's views of religious belief, the psychology of habit, and philosophical anthropology.Trade Review"Larry A. Hickman is one of the best interpreters of the American pragmatic tradition, especially the thought of John Dewey. In this collection of essays, he presents a vigorous, lively, and lucid defense of the relevance and importance of pragmatism for dealing with some of the most pressing and complex issues of our time-including technology, the environment, and globalization. He persuasively argues that classical pragmatism is "waiting at the end of the road" traveled by modernist and postmodernist thinkers." -- -Richard J. Bernstein New School for Social Research "Larry Hickman has here reinvented John Dewey and pragmatism, this time in the postmodern context. No one does better than Hickman in translating the implications of pragmatism into its contemporary relevance. And here the romps through technology and the Critical Theorists, issues of the environment and the chapters on Dewey himself are lively and revealing." -- -Don Ihde Stony Brook University "... A critical discussion about the complex relation between philosophical postmodernism and classical pragmatism." -Educational Theory "A much needed contribution to the philosophical literature on pragmatism." -- -Michael Eldridge University of North Carolina "Ties a rigorous discussion of complicated philosophical disputes to their usefulness and worth in real-world issues such as global citizenship, religious disputes, and cultural conflict." -- -Charlotte Haddock Seigfried Purdue University "While Pragmatism as Post-Postmodernism indeed connects the philosophical schools of thought referenced in its title, potential readers should be advised that Hickman also provides one of the best analyses of recent work on technology and environmental philosophy currently available. No where else is the work of contemporary figures such as Rolston, Callicott, Norton, Feenberg and Borgmann so well addressed, and to have a critical study that engages all of these figures between two covers represents an intellectual windfall of the first order." -- -Paul B. Thompson Michigan State University "In these wide-ranging essays, Larry Hickman demonstrates once again his deep knowledge of Dewey's philosophy. He brings Dewey's voice into the very midst of many of today's most urgent debates about how to interpret and respond to our human condition." -- -David T. Hansen Columbia University

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Book SynopsisPresents John Dewey as very much at home in the busy mix of contemporary philosophy - as a thinker whose work, more than fifty years after his death, still furnishes fresh insights into philosophical debates. This book provides novel interpretations of Dewey's views of religious belief, the psychology of habit, and philosophical anthropology.Trade Review"Larry A. Hickman is one of the best interpreters of the American pragmatic tradition, especially the thought of John Dewey. In this collection of essays, he presents a vigorous, lively, and lucid defense of the relevance and importance of pragmatism for dealing with some of the most pressing and complex issues of our time-including technology, the environment, and globalization. He persuasively argues that classical pragmatism is "waiting at the end of the road" traveled by modernist and postmodernist thinkers." -- -Richard J. Bernstein New School for Social Research "Larry Hickman has here reinvented John Dewey and pragmatism, this time in the postmodern context. No one does better than Hickman in translating the implications of pragmatism into its contemporary relevance. And here the romps through technology and the Critical Theorists, issues of the environment and the chapters on Dewey himself are lively and revealing." -- -Don Ihde Stony Brook University "... A critical discussion about the complex relation between philosophical postmodernism and classical pragmatism." -Educational Theory "A much needed contribution to the philosophical literature on pragmatism." -- -Michael Eldridge University of North Carolina "Ties a rigorous discussion of complicated philosophical disputes to their usefulness and worth in real-world issues such as global citizenship, religious disputes, and cultural conflict." -- -Charlotte Haddock Seigfried Purdue University "While Pragmatism as Post-Postmodernism indeed connects the philosophical schools of thought referenced in its title, potential readers should be advised that Hickman also provides one of the best analyses of recent work on technology and environmental philosophy currently available. No where else is the work of contemporary figures such as Rolston, Callicott, Norton, Feenberg and Borgmann so well addressed, and to have a critical study that engages all of these figures between two covers represents an intellectual windfall of the first order." -- -Paul B. Thompson Michigan State University "In these wide-ranging essays, Larry Hickman demonstrates once again his deep knowledge of Dewey's philosophy. He brings Dewey's voice into the very midst of many of today's most urgent debates about how to interpret and respond to our human condition." -- -David T. Hansen Columbia University

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Book SynopsisDeals with theories of interaction and transaction, communication and culture, learning and education, community and democracy, theory and practice, and inquiry and methodsTrade Review"Writings by American and German scholars of the American philosopher." -The Chronicle of Higher Education "This book is a unique collaboration by leading scholars of Dewey on both sides of the Atlantic. The contributors illuminate theoretical resonance, and dissonance, between classical pragmatism and contemporary constructivism." -- -David T. Hansen Teachers College, Columbia University "A substantial contribution to the theoretical literature on constructivism and Dewey's pragmatism-highly readable and lively debate that should provoke stimulating discussion among philosophers." -- -Nel Noddings Stanford University "An ambitious, innovative work that seeks to bring together popular culture studies with political philosophy." -- -William Gavin University of Southern Maine "The planetary reach of John Dewey's thought comes alive in this trenchant discussion of his epistemology and philosophy of education. It is salutary, indeed, that the American and German Center for Dewey Studies provide us with this refreshingly cross-cultural inquiry." -- -John J. McDermott Texas A&M University "A novel and significant collaboration by American pragmatists and German constructivists, this volume identifies, clarifies and critically develops the pragmatic-constructivist approach." -- -Michael Eldridge University of North Carolina, Charlotte "This volume grew out of the remarkably successful collaboration of American and German scholars. The contributors demonstrate the international scope and intense contemporary relevance of Dewey's thought. They achieve impressive clarity in their account of the relations of pragmatism to constructivism as it developed in the Twentieth Century." -- -John Lachs Vanderbilt University This book originated in a conference at the University of Cologne in 2001. It consists of a series of essays discussing the relationship between John Dewey's pragmatism and German constructivism. The latter bears many similarities to certain strains of 20th-century French thought--that of Michel Foucault in particular. Like French poststructuralism, constructivism has roots in German phenomenology, but it derives from other traditions as well. The contributions by Reich (U. Cologne) and Kenneth W. Stikkers (Southern Illinois U.--Carbondale) detail various aspects of this history, while the contributions of Hickman (SIU--Carbondale), Jim Garrison (Virginia Tech), and Neubert (U. Cologne) focus on Dewey's work. Part 2 discusses the legacy of Dewey for both constructivism and pragmatism. Hickman's second contribution raises some doubts about the constructivist project, claiming that it has become another variety of cognitive relativism, similar to French postmodernism or American neopragmatist thought. The collection concludes with an edited e-mail discussion among the contributors. This book will be useful for scholars researching the contemporary relevance of Dewey's thought and pragmatism more generally, both in the US and in Europe. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers. -Choice "This tidy volume marks a milestone in the ongoing efforts of Larry Hickman to advocate for Deweyan pragmatism as a world philosophy. Like John Dewey himself-a social and political reformer on the international stage-Dewey's version of pragmatism is transactional, pluralistic, and resolutely cosmopolitan. In this tightly integrated collection of essays, a team of American and German educators place pragmatism and the Cologne-style interactive constructivism in dialog, and serving as an object lesson in itself for both approaches, provide a compelling argument for the international relevance of an always contemporary pragmatism. " -- -Roger T. Ames University of Hawai'i

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Book SynopsisThe question of how far Dewey's thought is indebted to Hegel has long been a conundrum for philosophers. This book shows that, far from repudiating Hegel, Dewey's entire pragmatic philosophy is premised on a philosophy of spirit inspired by Hegel's project.Trade Review"With their significant new interpretation of the role of Hegel in the formation of Dewey's thought, Shook and Good have transformed the landscape of Dewey scholarship." -- -Larry Hickman Southern Illinois University, Carbondale "Dewey's reception of Hegel is the decisive historical event inaugurating the American Pragmatist assimilation of German Idealism, which has become one of the most exciting themes in contemporary American philosophy. With the publication and critical annotation of this archival but important source in which Dewey systematically explores one of Hegel's greatest works, American scholars will now have a remarkable new resource in carrying out this momentous adventure in philosophical synthesis." -- -John H. Zammito Rice University 1. Shook and Good are the pioneers of a new and suggestive interpretation of Hegel's deep and enduring influence on Dewey. They show how Dewey's preference for a humanistic/historicist reading of Hegel over the usual metaphysical/theological reading ensconced by the British neo-Hegelians is actually quite compatible with contemporary Hegel scholarship. Combining Dewey's remarkable 1897 Lecture on Hegel with two impressive essays helping to interpret the text opens up new territory for scholars. 2. This volume offers for the first time a scholarly version of Dewey's insightful 1897 lecture on Hegel along with their two essays by Shook and Good that go a long way in furthering our understanding of Hegel's influence on Dewey, especially his thinking on religion, art, and the function of philosophy. 3. Shook and Good show us that the better er understand that Hegel was a better empiricist than the British Empiricist and that the Absolute Spirit is not supernal (for example, God or logical categories) as depicted by the British neo-Hegelians (many of whom, like T. H. Green are really neo-Kantians as Dewey well knew) along with many other myths, we may unblock the path of inquiry to a better understanding of how Hegel "left a permanent deposit" and deep impression on Dewey's philosophy. -- -Jim Garrison Virginia Tech "Represents an important and original contribution to scholarly research in American philosophy and in Dewey studies. It also provides further evidence of the important role that Hegelian Idealism plays in American heritages of philosophy, and contributes to our understanding of the distinctive use made of Hegel in Dewey's thought...An outstanding and useful work." -- -Theodore George Texas A&M University

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Book SynopsisConversations on Peirce provides a loosely related set of essays dealing with the philosophy of American pragmatist Charles Peirce that developed out of conversations between the authors over the last decade. The essays deal generally with the ways in which Peirce was both a realist and an idealist. Several of the essays also explore the consequences of these ideas in Peirce’s thought.Trade Review"This collection of essays on the philosophy of C.S. Peirce is both delightfully rich and provocatively open. Anderson and Hausman combine their reflection and writing efficiently and elegantly in three sections." -Choice "An excellent collection of essays on Peirce's metaphysics and his theory of inquiry, conceived in the spirit of a conversation between fellow travellers. This book will appeal to the budding Peirce scholar as well as to the seasoned specialist." -- -Cornelis de Waal Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis

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Book SynopsisExplores the theories of democratic individualism articulated in the works of the American transcendentalist writer Ralph Waldo Emerson, pragmatic philosophers William James and John Dewey, and African-American novelist and essayist Ralph Ellison.Trade Review"What emerges from these discussions of an Emerson-inflected pragmatism is a convincing narrative of the development of a democratic theory that both maintains a standard of public responsibility and accountability, while preserving the vital role of individual moral reasoning and moral choice in that process. I consider this a very important contribution to the history of American ethical and political thought. This book will have an immediate impact on Emerson studies." -- -David M. Robinson Oregon State University, and author of Emerson and the Conduct of Life "Describes a genealogy of individualist ethics in Ralph Waldo Emerson, William James, John Dewey, and Ralph Ellison that departs from that of classical liberalism." -The Chronicle Review "Albrecht does a very good job of treating Emerson convincingly as a pragmatist precursor without losing sight of the complexity of Emerson's own prose and interpretive frames." -- -Joseph M. Thomas Albright College "Albrecht's thorough presentation of Emerson as a pluralist, relational individualist serves as a convincing backdrop for his reading of Pragmatism as an expression of a shared American individualist tradition." -Emerson Society Papers

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Book SynopsisLoyalty to Loyalty: Josiah Royce and the Genuine Moral Life clarifies the nature of loyalty and its role in ethical living, employing the philosophy of Josiah Royce as a theoretical frame. Loyalty to Loyalty provides original and extensive analysis of Royce's philosophy of loyalty, including applications to contemporary moral problems.Trade Review"American philosophy's contributions to philosophical ethics rarely receive such an enthusiastic expositor as Foust, who has done an exemplary job with Harvard's Josiah Royce." -Choice "This book makes significant contributions to the ongoing scholarship on the work of Josiah Royce..." -- -Jacquelyn Ann K. Kegley California State University, Bakersfield "Foust offers not only a major contribution to Royce scholarship but also an important, original, and timely contribution to ethics generally." -- -Kenneth Stikkers Southern Illinois University

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Book SynopsisThe Things in Heaven and Earth is a development and application of the Columbia Naturalism of John Dewey, John Herman Randall, Jr., and Justus Buchler. The chapters deal with systematic ontology, epistemology, constructivism and objectivity, philosophical theology, art, democratic theory, foreign policy, education, humanism, and cosmopolitanism.Trade Review"This is a work of profound scholarship and original philosophy. The author obviously has command of a wide range of theoretical and practical resources-including not only philosophy, its history and American philosophy in particular, but, also, the arts, the natural and social sciences, and political theory. He makes effective use of this vast arsenal of resources to advance his perspective and satisfactorily accomplish the mission of the book. His illustrations and practical examples, across all the above-mentioned fields and practices, give the distinct impression of a well-seasoned thinker who, in this work, is putting years of experience, accumulated wisdom and insight to work, provocatively and effectively." -- -Richard E. Hart Bloomfield College "In this thought-provoking volume, John Ryder defends an original version of pragmatic naturalism that has a rich yet partly neglected history. He reintroduces the tradition of 'Columbia Naturalism' - not only the relatively well-known naturalism defended by John Dewey but also the less well-known views of thinkers like Justus Buchler - and especially its theory of relationality, as well as the many promising applications of that theory not only in ontology and epistemology but also in ethics and political philosophy. Ryder thereby vigorously challenges both the post-linguistic-turn 'new pragmatisms' and the reductive forms of naturalism dominating the philosophical mainstream today. This is pragmatically naturalistic philosophy at its best: pluralistic, fallibilistic, and open-minded." -- -Sami Pihlstrom University of Jyvaskyla "In this well-crafted volume John Ryder makes a strong and elegant case for a version of philosophical naturalism that avoids reductive materialism and builds on the best ideas of both modernism and postmodernism. Expanding on the insights of John Dewey, John Herman Randall, Jr., and Justus Buchler, among others, he constructs a muscular naturalism that is fully capable of producing salutary and enduring effects in the areas of religion, the arts, and political life." -- -Larry A. Hickman Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

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Book SynopsisWritten in an easy, often witty, style Documentality revises Foucault's late concept of the ontology of actuality into the project of an ontological laboratory, thereby reinventing philosophy as a pragmatic activity that is directly applicable to our everyday life.Trade Review"Documentality re-energizes the traditional philosophical debate on realism by contextualizing this problematic within the field of new media and positioning it in the wake of the momentous philosophical contributions of Derrida and Foucault." -- -Alessia Ricciardi Northwestern University "The growth of modern civilization depends to a surprising degree on the power of documents. Law, commerce, science, government all depend on documents to transcend the constraints of pre-modern, face-to-face communication. Yet documents, thus far, have played only a tiny role in the work of social ontologists. Maurizio Ferraris shows in this brilliant new work how documents can be used as a springboard for an entirely new view of the structure of social reality -- in which documents form the very tracks along which the engines of our mental and social lives run." -- -Barry Smith Director of the National Center for Ontological Research (NCOR) "A clear, fast-paced, truly exciting book." -- -Jean-Michel Rabate University of Pennsylvania "The most stimulating feature of the book is not so much that documents allow Ferraris to develop an ontology, but rather that his ontology allows him to understand and to help us to understand what documents are and what society is." -- -Umberto Eco author of The Name of the Rose

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Book SynopsisThis book examines human relationships with pets without assuming that such relations are either unnatural and to be avoided, or benign. We need to find ways to relate respectfully. For respectful relationships to be a real possibility, though, humans must make the effort to understand the beings with whom they live, work, and play.Trade Review"Insightful and appealing reading that presents many curious questions on the concepts of human nature, "Pets, People, and Pragmatism" is a strongly recommended addition to pets and sociology collections." -Midwest Book Review "This book brings useful ideas to the pursuit of an open dialogue on animal well being..." -Environmental Values "Rich in remarkable details, her [McKenna's] book promises to help horses, dogs, and cats by illuminating relevant facets of our shared histories and current interactions." -Hillary Kelleher, Depauw Reviews

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Book SynopsisThis book examines human relationships with pets without assuming that such relations are either unnatural and to be avoided, or benign. We need to find ways to relate respectfully. For respectful relationships to be a real possibility, though, humans must make the effort to understand the beings with whom they live, work, and play.Trade Review"Insightful and appealing reading that presents many curious questions on the concepts of human nature, "Pets, People, and Pragmatism" is a strongly recommended addition to pets and sociology collections." -Midwest Book Review "This book brings useful ideas to the pursuit of an open dialogue on animal well being..." -Environmental Values "Rich in remarkable details, her [McKenna's] book promises to help horses, dogs, and cats by illuminating relevant facets of our shared histories and current interactions." -Hillary Kelleher, Depauw Reviews

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Book SynopsisThe book is a study of pragmatism and pragmatic pluralism in the philosophy of religion. Through critical examinations of James’s, Dewey’s, and recent neopragmatists’ ideas, it argues that key issues in the field – including the debate between evidentialism and fideism, and the problem of evil – need rearticulation from a pragmatic pluralistic perspective.Trade Review"... a solid work of scholarship, well-argued and insightful." -- -Michael L. Raposa Lehigh University "Pihlstrom does an amazing job of sorting the metaphysical remnants of Kant in James and in the process restores questions of metaphysics to American pragmatism. This excellent work of scholarship calls for a deeper examination of pragmatist metaphysics and its challenge to religion and its reformulation." -- -Roger A. Ward Georgetown College "Sami Pihlstrom develops here a pragmatic philosophy of religion enriched by Immanuel Kant's insight that belief or faith in God is motivated chiefly by ethical considerations. He illumines important connections between Kant's writing on religion and that of William James and John Dewey, and shows how attention to both can provide resources for a conception and analysis of religion that is pluralistic and takes normativity seriously. Pihlstrom has been a leading interpreter of the pragmatists and it is good to have this important constructive contribution to the philosophy of religion." -- -Wayne Proudfoot Columbia University

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Book SynopsisThis book, the result of cooperation between the Center for Dewey Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the Dewey Center at the University of Cologne, provides an excellent example of the international character of pragmatist studies agaiTrade Review"Writings by American and German scholars of the American philosopher." -The Chronicle of Higher Education "This book is a unique collaboration by leading scholars of Dewey on both sides of the Atlantic. The contributors illuminate theoretical resonance, and dissonance, between classical pragmatism and contemporary constructivism." -- -David T. Hansen Teachers College, Columbia University "A substantial contribution to the theoretical literature on constructivism and Dewey's pragmatism-highly readable and lively debate that should provoke stimulating discussion among philosophers." -- -Nel Noddings Stanford University "An ambitious, innovative work that seeks to bring together popular culture studies with political philosophy." -- -William Gavin University of Southern Maine "The planetary reach of John Dewey's thought comes alive in this trenchant discussion of his epistemology and philosophy of education. It is salutary, indeed, that the American and German Center for Dewey Studies provide us with this refreshingly cross-cultural inquiry." -- -John J. McDermott Texas A&M University "A novel and significant collaboration by American pragmatists and German constructivists, this volume identifies, clarifies and critically develops the pragmatic-constructivist approach." -- -Michael Eldridge University of North Carolina, Charlotte "This volume grew out of the remarkably successful collaboration of American and German scholars. The contributors demonstrate the international scope and intense contemporary relevance of Dewey's thought. They achieve impressive clarity in their account of the relations of pragmatism to constructivism as it developed in the Twentieth Century." -- -John Lachs Vanderbilt University This book originated in a conference at the University of Cologne in 2001. It consists of a series of essays discussing the relationship between John Dewey's pragmatism and German constructivism. The latter bears many similarities to certain strains of 20th-century French thought--that of Michel Foucault in particular. Like French poststructuralism, constructivism has roots in German phenomenology, but it derives from other traditions as well. The contributions by Reich (U. Cologne) and Kenneth W. Stikkers (Southern Illinois U.--Carbondale) detail various aspects of this history, while the contributions of Hickman (SIU--Carbondale), Jim Garrison (Virginia Tech), and Neubert (U. Cologne) focus on Dewey's work. Part 2 discusses the legacy of Dewey for both constructivism and pragmatism. Hickman's second contribution raises some doubts about the constructivist project, claiming that it has become another variety of cognitive relativism, similar to French postmodernism or American neopragmatist thought. The collection concludes with an edited e-mail discussion among the contributors. This book will be useful for scholars researching the contemporary relevance of Dewey's thought and pragmatism more generally, both in the US and in Europe. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers. -Choice "This tidy volume marks a milestone in the ongoing efforts of Larry Hickman to advocate for Deweyan pragmatism as a world philosophy. Like John Dewey himself-a social and political reformer on the international stage-Dewey's version of pragmatism is transactional, pluralistic, and resolutely cosmopolitan. In this tightly integrated collection of essays, a team of American and German educators place pragmatism and the Cologne-style interactive constructivism in dialog, and serving as an object lesson in itself for both approaches, provide a compelling argument for the international relevance of an always contemporary pragmatism. " -- -Roger T. Ames University of Hawai'i

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Book SynopsisThis book brings together secular liberal democratic thought—as found within the work of late neo-pragmatic philosopher Richard Rorty—with religious liberal thinkers—such as Martin Buber and Ernst Bloch—for the purpose of exploring the contested intellectual history of redemptive hope narratives.Trade Review"Akiba Lerner is one of the courageous and visionary thinkers who creatively wrestle with philosophic hope grounded in prophetic praxis. He is part of a grand legacy-in family and tradition-that keeps alive a shattering of indifference and a compassion for justice." -- -Cornel West "With nuanced erudition Akiba J. Lerner brings the neo-pragmatist Richard Rorty and the Jewish existentialist Martin Buber into a dialogue to explore narrative strategies to sustain social hope in an age duly skeptical of the utopian promises of political ideologies and wary of messianic enthusiasm." -- -Paul Mendes-Flohr The University of Chicago,Professor emeritus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem "Many scholars within the field of affect studies will appreciate Akiba Lerner's illuminating treatment of Ernst Bloch, who has emerged as a key intellectual progenitor of the field. Jewish studies scholars, in turn, will gain a new appreciation for a figure whose connection to contemporary Jewish thought has often been overlooked." -- -Nathanial Deutsch author of The Jewish Dark Continent: Life and Death in the Russian Pale of SettlementTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Redemptive Hope and the Cunning of History 2. Revival of Messianic Hope 3. The God of Exodus and The School of Hope 4. Richard Rorty's Post-Metaphysical Social Hope Conclusion: Between Pragmatic and Messianic Hopes Notes Index

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Book SynopsisThis book brings together secular liberal democratic thought—as found within the work of late neo-pragmatic philosopher Richard Rorty—with religious liberal thinkers—such as Martin Buber and Ernst Bloch—for the purpose of exploring the contested intellectual history of redemptive hope narratives.Trade Review"Akiba Lerner is one of the courageous and visionary thinkers who creatively wrestle with philosophic hope grounded in prophetic praxis. He is part of a grand legacy-in family and tradition-that keeps alive a shattering of indifference and a compassion for justice." -- -Cornel West "With nuanced erudition Akiba J. Lerner brings the neo-pragmatist Richard Rorty and the Jewish existentialist Martin Buber into a dialogue to explore narrative strategies to sustain social hope in an age duly skeptical of the utopian promises of political ideologies and wary of messianic enthusiasm." -- -Paul Mendes-Flohr The University of Chicago,Professor emeritus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem "Many scholars within the field of affect studies will appreciate Akiba Lerner's illuminating treatment of Ernst Bloch, who has emerged as a key intellectual progenitor of the field. Jewish studies scholars, in turn, will gain a new appreciation for a figure whose connection to contemporary Jewish thought has often been overlooked." -- -Nathanial Deutsch author of The Jewish Dark Continent: Life and Death in the Russian Pale of SettlementTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Redemptive Hope and the Cunning of History 2. Revival of Messianic Hope 3. The God of Exodus and The School of Hope 4. Richard Rorty's Post-Metaphysical Social Hope Conclusion: Between Pragmatic and Messianic Hopes Notes Index

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Book SynopsisFocuses on the relationship between American pragmatism and ethics. This book elaborates pragmatism's distinctive contribution to understandings of moral experience, inquiry, and judgment. It shows that moral imagination can be conceived as a process of aesthetic perception and artistic creativity. It sheds light on the nature of moral judgment.Trade Review[F]esmire's book is not only successful, but it also represents a very important addition to the burgeoning field of pragmatist ethics. His emphasis on the importance of moral imagination is a much-needed corrective, given its neglect in the scholarship. Fesmire is to be commended for offering us this fine book.Winter 2005 * Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences *[J]ohn Dewey and Moral Imagination is a most welcome addition to the scholarship of Dewey's moral philosophy.20.1 Journal of Speculative Philosophy2006 * Journal of Speculative Philosophy *[P]rovides a rich reading of the ethical implications of philosophical pragmatism . . . Highly recommended. * Choice *This is an important book that provides a superb treatment of the moral imagination. It should be welcome both as a catalyst for the revitalization of ethics and as a needed clarification of Dewey's moral philosophy. It will be useful to a diverse group of scholars and intellectuals, including philosophers, teachers, politicians, sociologists, cognitive scientists and all those who are concerned with enhancing our opportunities for forging more satisfying communities.Sept. 2004 * Journal of Moral Education *[L]ucid, succinct, and a joy to read. . . . [A] breath of fresh air in the vast literature on traditional ethical theorizing which can be stifling to individuals trying to become moral individuals. * Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy *John Dewey and Moral Imagination sets forth an opportunity for teachers of so-called practical ethics. Fesmire is in effect asking us to find ways to use Dewey's rich account of moral imagination as a tool for the discovery of more intelligent solutions to the specific morally problematic situations we inevitably encounter in the course of experience.April 2005 * Ethics *Table of ContentsPreliminary Table of Contents: AcknowledgmentsList of AbbreviationsIntroduction: Revitalizing EthicsPart 1. Character, Belief, and Intelligence in Classical Pragmatism1. Habit and Character2. The Pragmatic Turn3. Pragmatism's Reconstruction of ReasonPart 2. Moral Imagination4. Imagination in Pragmatist Ethics5. Dramatic Rehearsal6. The Deweyan Ideal7. The Moral ArtistNotesBibliographyIndex

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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