Pragmatism: A New Name For Same Old Ways Of Thinking
Avneet Multani
Philosophy
Professor Nevens
December 7, 2011
Philosophy in Action: William James & Pragmatism Analysis
Philosophy is defined to be the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge and conduct; it is the art of analyzing and modifying our surroundings from a perspective that includes more than one perspective. Philosophy is a particular field where there cannot be any wrong areas of interpretation as long as it does not deny or contradict the facts of lived experience and does not deny the power of human action to effect changes in the universe. The philosopher to propose this approach is William James. William James is most known for his book “Pragmatism: A New Name for Same Old Ways of Thinking” which just happens to be the first philosophical movement originated in the United States. This book is combination of a series of lectures given by James at various universities; James main focus in his lectures is the concept of Pragmatism which James refers to as a collaborated effort and credits Charles Sanders Peirce …show more content…
Peirce claims pragmatism exposes the meaninglessness of most metaphysical disputes whereas James insists that pragmatism is a method of settling metaphysical disputes that otherwise might be interminable. Peirce actually “delimits” pragmatism’s scope in attempt to completely disorient metaphysics as a whole but James introduces his version of pragmatism as a philosophy and a way to handle metaphysics than to avoid it. James prefers to locate the meaning of an idea within its “practical consequences” for behavior when Peirce limits the practical consequences of an idea to those functional proposals which it predicates of its object. But James designs his pragmatism to involve the given idea’s pragmatic meaning its implications for the “entirety of the believing subject’s
Philosophy
Professor Nevens
December 7, 2011
Philosophy in Action: William James & Pragmatism Analysis
Philosophy is defined to be the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge and conduct; it is the art of analyzing and modifying our surroundings from a perspective that includes more than one perspective. Philosophy is a particular field where there cannot be any wrong areas of interpretation as long as it does not deny or contradict the facts of lived experience and does not deny the power of human action to effect changes in the universe. The philosopher to propose this approach is William James. William James is most known for his book “Pragmatism: A New Name for Same Old Ways of Thinking” which just happens to be the first philosophical movement originated in the United States. This book is combination of a series of lectures given by James at various universities; James main focus in his lectures is the concept of Pragmatism which James refers to as a collaborated effort and credits Charles Sanders Peirce …show more content…
Peirce claims pragmatism exposes the meaninglessness of most metaphysical disputes whereas James insists that pragmatism is a method of settling metaphysical disputes that otherwise might be interminable. Peirce actually “delimits” pragmatism’s scope in attempt to completely disorient metaphysics as a whole but James introduces his version of pragmatism as a philosophy and a way to handle metaphysics than to avoid it. James prefers to locate the meaning of an idea within its “practical consequences” for behavior when Peirce limits the practical consequences of an idea to those functional proposals which it predicates of its object. But James designs his pragmatism to involve the given idea’s pragmatic meaning its implications for the “entirety of the believing subject’s