Essays in Pragmatism

by William James

Book Overview

From the Hafner Library of Classics comes a collection of essays from William James, including introductory essays from some of the top scholars in America.

The Hafner Library of Classics offers a refreshing approach to the study of major Western philosophers through introductory essays by noted scholars that work to enliven the discussion of the human side of great thinkers.

In this addition to the series, readers will be immersed...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0028471407
• ISBN13: 9780028471402
• Release Date: January 1970
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.3" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Rational Examination of Belief

I am about to teach, once again, a course in religion and psychology -- since I have degrees in both. I want to avoid reading, once more, the many extreme Christian examples of religious experience in William James's The Varieties of Religious Experience. Through various recent experiences, and teaching experiences, I know that the book is widely misunderstood, or parts are taken out of context. Looking over my bookshelves, I came across a very old copy of this book, _Essays in Pragmatism_. The introduction covers many of the points needed to explain the history and background of the extraordinary contribution of William James. As his relatively unsung contemporaries in the systematic examination of religion, I will add William E.B. DuBois The Souls of Black Folk (Enriched Classics Series) and Evelyn Underhill Practical Mysticism. Sigmund Freud is also roughly a contemporary of William James, and there may have been a reference to Freud's The Interpretation of Dreams in William James's _Varieties_. What is useful in Freud, though, is covered in his Five Lectures on Psycho-Analysis, where he details the Freudian defense mechanisms. This book has a nice balance of essays. I think the most important to the topic of religion and psychology is "The Will to Believe." Then, rather than do all of Varieties we will concentrate on understanding the last two chapters of it, which are included here. Most young readers of Varieties seem to get swept away by the early chapters, which validate religious experiences they have had, or have wondered about. In contrast, James's point came at the ending of his book, and involves the ability to rationally examine cases chosen precisely because they were extreme, not because they were Christian. Essays in Pragmatism contains in one book two important elements that help delineate James and his thought; the separate "Essay on Pragmatism" comes as a bonus for those who think they know what pragmatism means. In short, this book serves as a good introduction to William James's thought, to his way of looking at religion, and to his philosophy of pragmatism.

BLAH. MEEEH

Almost there...or was it my melancholic prof? James is an intellectual but the prof did some serious injustice to him. Too bad