44 pages • 1 hour read
Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking
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Book Brief
128
Book • Nonfiction
1900s
1907
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Pragmatism by William James consists of eight lectures originally delivered at the Lowell Institute and Columbia University. It presents pragmatism as a philosophy that mediates between idealism and empiricism by evaluating ideas through their practical consequences. James argues that concepts should be tested in the "marketplace" of experience and posits that truth evolves with knowledge.
Informative
Contemplative
Inspirational
Reviews & Readership
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Review Roundup
William James's Pragmatism is celebrated for its accessible prose and innovative ideas, making complex philosophy approachable. Critics praise its practical application of thought, though some find it overly simplistic and occasionally inconsistent. Overall, it remains a seminal text that invites readers to reconsider the nature of truth and belief in a pragmatic context.
Who Should Read Pragmatism?
A reader interested in Pragmatism by William James is likely fascinated by philosophy and psychology, particularly the practical application of ideas. They may have enjoyed The Varieties of Religious Experience or John Dewey's Experience and Education. Such readers appreciate nuanced discussions on truth, belief, and the human experience.
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Mixed feelings
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Charles Sanders Peirce
Charles Sanders Peirce
An American philosopher who significantly influenced William James, particularly with the philosophy of pragmatism, which inspired James's own adoption and development of the concept.
128
Book • Nonfiction
1900s
1907
Adult
18+ years
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