Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking

by William James

Overview

It is astonishing to see how many philosophical disputes collapse into insignificance the moment you subject them to this simple test of tracing a concrete consequence. There can be no difference any-where that doesn't make a difference elsewhere—no difference in abstract truth that doesn't express itself in a difference in concrete fact and in conduct consequent upon that fact, imposed on somebody, somehow, somewhere and somewhen. The whole function of philosophy ought to be to find out what definite difference it will make to you and me, at definite instants of our life, if this world-formula or that world-formula be the true one.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781911535560
Publisher:	Interactive Media
Publication date:	10/01/2016
Series:	Business Library
Sold by:	StreetLib SRL
Format:	eBook
File size:	881 KB

About the Author

William James (January 11, 1842 - August 26, 1910) was an American philosopher and psychologist who was also trained as a physician. The first educator to offer a psychology course in the United States, James was one of the leading thinkers of the late nineteenth century and is believed by many to be one of the most influential philosophers the United States has ever produced, while others have labeled him the "Father of American psychology".

Table of Contents

Preface; 1. The present dilemma in philosophy; 2. What pragmatism means; 3. Some metaphysical problems pragmatically considered; 4. The one and the many; 5. Pragmatism and common sense; 6. Pragmatism's conception of truth; 7. Pragmatism and humanism; 8. Pragmatism and religion; Index.