Description
Book SynopsisThis book rescues an often misunderstood, underappreciated, and radical John Dewey. It centers on his rejection of traditional epistemology for his original and powerful view of logicwith serious implications for general philosophy, the philosophy of the human sciences, including psychology, and the philosophy of democracy. The goal of this work is not to try to rescue Dewey from his critics, but to rescue Dewey from his friendsfrom those who ignore the implications of Dewey''s naturalism to those influenced by Richard Rorty who take Dewey''s rejection of insurrectionary politics too far. While it is true that Dewey rejected insurrectionary politics and was no fire-eating leftist, his analysis of the present was radical in the sense that it went straight to the roots. Peter T. Manicas examines how this made Dewey''s politics similar to those of Marx in many crucial ways and the positive effort of these essays places Dewey''s naturalism at the forefront, resolving some of the tensions
Trade ReviewThis study is stunningly good in more ways than it is possible to summarize briefly: above all, an author, whose erudition is as wide-ranging as his acumen is deep-cutting, has written a timely work in which historical contextualization and philosophical probity are perfectly balanced. John Dewey is rescued by Peter T. Manicas from narrow and reductive readings; thereby he is made available as a truly contemporary contributor to intellectual debates of broad human significance and debates concerning democratic practices and political deliberation, as much as science and inquiry. Dewey's pragmatic naturalism has no more informed, insightful, and indeed eloquent champion than Peter Manicas; and here Manicas is unquestionably at the top of his game. -- Vincent Colapietro, Pennsylvania State University
This collection of essays is an important contribution to this debate and will undoubtedly inspire further discussion about the proper placement of Dewey in the history of political thought. * The Review of Politics *
Peter T. Manicas offers his readers a wide-ranging and highly original tour of Dewey's work, set against the backdrop of more than a century of developments in epistemology, political philosophy, and sociology. Confidently evoking a huge cast of characters, and taking on Dewey's friends as well as his foes, he provides fresh insights into the complexities of Dewey's thought and its continuing relevance for democratic life. -- Larry A. Hickman, The Center for Dewey Studies, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Table of Contents Chapter 2 Acknowledgments Chapter 3 Introduction Part 4 I: Pragmatism and Science Chapter 5 1. Pragmatic Philosophy of Science and the Charge of Scientism Chapter 6 2. John Dewey and American Psychology Chapter 7 3. John Dewey and American Social Science Chapter 8 4. Culture and Nature Part 9 II: Not Another Epistemology Chapter 10 5. Naturalism and Subjectivism Chapter 11 6. Naturalizing Epistemology: Recent Developments in Psychology and the Sociology of Knowledge Part 12 III: Democracy Chapter 13 7. American Democracy: A New Spirit in the World Chapter 14 8. John Dewey: Anarchism and the Political State Chapter 15 9. Philosophy and Politics: A Historical Approach to Marx and Dewey Chapter 16 10. John Dewey and Problem of Justice Chapter 17 11. Liberalism's Discontent: America in Search for the Past that Never Was Part 18 IV: Why Not Dewey? Chapter 19 12. The Evasion of Philosophy Chapter 20 13. Democratic Hope Chapter 21 14. Analytic Pragmatism Chapter 22 15. Post-Modern Pragmatism Chapter 23 References Chapter 24 Index
