The Writings of William James: A Comprehensive Edition (Phoenix Book) [Paperback]

William James (Author), John J. McDermott (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0226391884 | ISBN-13: 978-0226391885 | Publication Date: January 15, 1978

In his introduction to this collection, John representative. McDermott presents James's thinking in all its manifestations, stressing the importance of radical empiricism and placing into perspective the doctrines of pragmatism and the will to believe. The critical periods of James's life are highlighted to illuminate the development of his philosophical and psychological thought.

The anthology features representive selections from The Principles of Psychology, The Will to Believe, and The Variety of Religious Experience in addition to the complete Essays in Radical Empiricism and A Pluralistic Universe. The original 1907 edition of Pragmatism is included, as well as classic selections from all of James's other major works. Of particular significance for James scholarship is the supplemented version of Ralph Barton Perry's Annotated Bibliography of the Writings of William James, with additions bringing it up to 1976.

Product Details

• Paperback: 912 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (January 15, 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226391884
• ISBN-13: 978-0226391885
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,315 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars James is an addicting and blisteringly real thinker!, July 11, 2003

By 

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

This review is from: The Writings of William James: A Comprehensive Edition (Phoenix Book) (Paperback)

This is an absolute value! Most of James's published writings including the hard to find "Pluralistic Universe" and "Essays in Radical Empiricism" are here. As well, we get the compolete "Pragmatism", "The Meaning of Truth" and excerpts from "Varieties" and "Psychology".

Before reading this collection, I'd read quite a bit of James. I bought this primarily for "Essays in Radical Empiricism" and "Pluralistic Universe" as this edition is cheaper than buying them seperately. I decided, though, that I'd read this one straight through and I'm glad I did. James is an amazingly astute, extremely relevant (if to some, troubling) thinker.

Unfortunately, James has been somewhat ignored. His goal as evidenced by most of this volume was to break the dualism prevelant in philosophy of an exagerated empiricism and an equally exagerated rationalism. James devoted most of his career not to building a solid and reductionistic philosophy (the activity of todays preferred philosophers) but to wiping the slate clean, being realistic about what we can know versus speculation, and reporting how things really are rather than what makes us comfortable. While James' commitment to radical empiricism and pragmatism made and make philosophers balk, they are also why we need to read and discuss him today.

My only complaints (for which I don't subtract anything) are: 1.) that the book does not go from one book in its entirety to another. Rather an essay from "Psychology" may be followed by one from "The Will to Beleive" and vice versa. This annoyed my because I did want to read them as they were meant to be read (chronological essays). Still, the divied up essays are good for continuities sake (as the editor did a good job sequencing them.

2.) As James probably did not intend for any one person to read all of his essays, he repeats himself (in ideas and words) frequently. In fact, in James' essay collection "The Will to Beleive" he apologizes in his preface for repeating paragraphs verbatum during various lecture/essays. Imagine that X 10. Oh, well! MInor compaints for such a great collection. Also, recommended is the "Writings of John Dewey" also put together by McDermott.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most Complete James Work I've Seen, May 23, 2001

By 

Paul McCord (Macon, GA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Writings of William James: A Comprehensive Edition (Phoenix Book) (Paperback)

The title is accurate: this is certainly a comprehensive edition of the work of William James. Included are several hundred pages of essays that lay out in complete detail the psychological and philosophical ideology of William James. You can not buy a better James work, and especially not for $25 or less.