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William James, Public Philosopher

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This short, though concise and informed critical biography of William James is a good introduction to his life and thought. The text predominately is a historical analysis concerning the era in which he lived, providing us with the necessary social influences that shaped the man's philosophy. One of the arguments in this text is that all philosophy is a biographical expression of the philosopher. And James wanted to express philosophy in the most accessible terms possible. As Cotkin suggests, James was a public philosopher, he wanted '...philosophy to be a conversation, a playful yet serious and enlightening confrontation with philosophical and cultural issues.'(14) He brought philosophy into the public arena and made it his life's mission to combat systematisation and abstraction, the "abstract rigmarole" that can riddle this subject. The subject of philosophy has been exiled to the academy - a specialized technical area of learning designed for the insecure elite. James wanted philosophy to be a 'passionate vision', not a complex array of problematic terms and ideas. He believed professional academics and their writings "obscured the truth". As Cotkin writes, 'Through his public philosophy James codified his revolt - and enlisted himself among those who practiced philosophy as edification - against the pretensions of professional philosophy.'(15)

This text presents us with a man who is the expression of a generation. He was a man of the times. Cotkin then moves on to James' family influences, his brilliant and eccentric father as well as the intellectual relationship with his brother, Henry. What begins to unfold is an individual who achieved the ability '...to universalise his private universe into public discourse, as well as the reality that his turmoil was the common cultural property of other Americans.' This convergence of public and private indivudual, Cotkin suggests, defined or translated into what became James' philosophical doctrine.

The most interesting chapter is 'The Discourse of Heroism'. Here Cotkin explores the philosopher's value on maintaining an on going 'passionate engagement' with life. In this chapter the author takes the reader through the many arguments concerning James' call for excitement and strenuosity in one's approach to existence, but with a warning: one must also remain committed to "courage weighted with responsibility."

~William James Public Philosopher~ is well researched and well written, presenting us with the man, the times in which he lived and his refreshing view of philosophy which continues to be important and relevant in the 21st century.