John Dewey and American Democracy (Magill’s Literary Annual 1991-2005)
At a glance:
- Author: Robert B. Westbrook
- First Published: 1991
- Type of Work: Biography
- Time of Work: 1859-1952
- Setting: Primarily the United States
- Principal Characters: John Dewey, Charles Sanders Peirce, William James, Randolph Bourne, Walter Lippmann, Reinhold Niebuhr
- Genres: Nonfiction, Biography
- Subjects: United States or Americans, Philosophy or philosophers, Pragmatism, Politics, Twentieth century, Social issues, Immigration or emigration, Political science, Democracy, Technology, Intellect, Urbanization
- Locales: United States
Along with Charles Peirce and William James, John Dewey (1859-1952) advanced the philosophical movement known as American pragmatism. To distinguish his version from those of Peirce and James, Dewey called his philosophy “instrumentalism.” The name appealed to him because he liked to think of human intelligence as a probing instrument people must use to solve life’s personal and social problems. Frequently, habitual responses are sufficient, but Dewey was especially impressed by the ways in which life challenges custom and tradition. Fresh inquiry is often called for, he stressed,...
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