Infleuence of Darwin on Philosophy (Great Books in Philosophy) [Paperback]

John Dewey (Author)

Book Description

Series: Great Books in Philosophy | Publication Date: May 1997

Pre-eminent American philosopher and educator John Dewey (1859-1952) rejected Hegelian idealism for the pragmatism of William James. In this collection of informal, highly readable essays, originally published between 1897 and 1909, Dewey articulates his now classic philosophical concepts of knowledge and truth and the nature of reality. Here, Dewey introduces his scientific method and uses critical intelligence to reject the traditional ways of viewing philosophical discourse. Knowledge cannot be divorced from experience; it is gradually acquired through interaction with nature. Philosophy, therefore, has to be regarded as itself a method of knowledge and not as a repository of disembodied, pre-existing absolute truths.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Larry A. Hickman, the director of the Center for Dewey Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is the author of Philosophical Tools for Technological Culture: Putting Pragmatism to Work, Modern Theories of Higher Level Predicates: Second Intentions in the Neuzeit, and John Dewey’s Pragmatic Technology, a recipient of a Choice Outstanding Academic Book award.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 321 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (May 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573921378
• ISBN-13: 978-1573921374
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,315,917 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A bit repetitive and difficult, but still worth it, October 2, 2003

By 

Kevin Currie-Knight "Education Grad Student" (Newark, Delaware) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Infleuence of Darwin on Philosophy (Great Books in Philosophy) (Paperback)

I am a big fan of John Dewey's work. Like many other Dewey readers, I find his work frustratingly hard to penetrate. This book is a bit more readable than most collections, but is still quite difficult.

First, all of these essays speak on the common theme of pragmatic metaphysics (epistemology?). This alone is a difficult (but immensely rewarding) subject. Fortunately, two of the best essays here ("Nature and its good" and "A short catechism concerning truth") are in dialogue form - something Dewey did only twice.

Other than those two there is some brilliant - and tedious - philosophy here. Of course, the title article needs no introduction - it is a standard and rightly so. "The experimental theory of knowledge" and "The intellectualist criterion of truth" both go far in explaining how Dewey breaks the dualism of real/ideal in metaphysics. "Beleifs and Existences" is also a great essay for understanding how Dewey looks at beliefs, not objects, as the 'creator of the world'.

Overall, I have to say that, in honesty, the book gets quite repititious about 2/3rds through. The basic gist is that the essays here map out Dewey's 'experimentalism' by showing how both the intellectualist idea of a priori or absolute truth 'out there', and empiricist concept of passive experience, are both flawed. Dewey outlays his brand of pragmatism, stemming from the naturalism touched on in title essay.

For Dewey fans, this is a great read. For those semi-interested and versed in Dewey, recommended but possibly after you've read "Quest for Certainty" (which, I think, is a more 'important' and even 'inviting' book). For the novice to Dewey, this is not the book to get. Read 'The Essential Dewey: vol. 1" first.

4 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Casualties of Darwinism, July 28, 2004

By 

John C. Landon "nemonemini" (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Infleuence of Darwin on Philosophy (Great Books in Philosophy) (Paperback)

Whatever one's views of Dewey one has to wonder if the confusing influence of Darwinism is partly responsible for the inability of pragmatism to generate any real philosphical lift. Dewey's work seems to clock the approximate point at which everyone fell for the new Darwinian foundationalism, unless it was Nietzsche, or else Marx/Engles, who was the first. Does it never occur to anyone that philosophy should produce a critique of Darwin? The onset of idiocy here goes a long way toward explaining the decline of twentieth century philosophy.