Pragmatism: A Series of Lectures by William James, 1906-1907

"Pragmatism - A Series of Lectures by William James," the most famous single work of American philosophy, resulted from a series of lectures delivered by William James in 1906 and 1907. This series of lectures illustrates well the fundamental attributes of pragmatism. As such it is an important book for any philosopher to read. Originally published as "Pragmatism: A New Way for Some Old Ways of Thinking," "Pragmatism - A Series of Lectures by William James" attacked the transcendental, rationalist tradition in philosophy and tried to clear the ground for the doctrine William James called radical empiricism. For William James, Pragmatism was a specific philosophical alternative to essentialism and foundationalism. He argued that ideas are meaningful only insofar as they have practical consequences in concrete human experience. Written in an engaging and accessible style, Pragmatism is a valuable corrective to modern uses of the word, since the voice that speaks in its pages embodies precisely the opposite values from the pejorative senses the word has acquired. Much of William James's strategy for mediating between science and religion remains important and has been developed by subsequent thinkers. In Pragmatism, he articulated an important mission for philosophy, making it a quest which could continue to inspire and to help people with their lives. William James was a challenging thinker who deserves to be read and still has much to teach. As for Pragmatism, it remains a provocative, valuable, and important work, a classic of American thought.