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Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1907

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Book Brief

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William James

Pragmatism

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1907
Book Details
Pages

128

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

1900s

Publication Year

1907

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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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

4.2

3,983 ratings

69%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

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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 this

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.

4.2

3,983 ratings

69%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

128

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

1900s

Publication Year

1907

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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