William James on Democratic Individuality

by Stephen S. Bush

Overview

William James (1842–1910) argued for a philosophy of democracy and pluralism that advocates individual and collective responsibility for our social arrangements, our morality, and our religion. In James' view, democracy resides first and foremost not in governmental institutions or in procedures such as voting, but rather in the characteristics of individuals, and in qualities of mind and conduct. It is a philosophy for social change, counselling action and hope despite the manifold challenges facing democratic politics, and these issues still resonate strongly today. In this book, Stephen S. Bush explores how these themes connect to James' philosophy of religion, his moral thought, his epistemology, his psychology, and his metaphysics. His fresh and original study highlights the relevance of James' thought to modern debates, and will appeal to scholars and students of moral and political philosophy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781316501696
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/22/2019
Pages:	252
Product dimensions:	6.02(w) x 9.06(h) x 0.59(d)

About the Author

Stephen S. Bush is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Brown University, Rhode Island. His publications include Visions of Religion: Experience, Meaning, and Power (2014).

Table of Contents

Preface; Abbreviations of James' works; Introduction; 1. The political James; 2. Collective responsibility and truth; 3. Collective responsibility for morality; 4. Moral objectivity; 5. Individuals and responsibility; 6. Sensitivity to strangers; 7. Individuality and social change; 8. Heroes and citizens; 9. Religion and motivation; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.