Things tagged (for better or worse) "dewey"
Article Could Experience Be More Than a Method: Dewey's Practical Starting Point
"Could Experience Be More Than a Method? Dewey’s Practical Starting Point." In R. Frega (ed.), Pragmatist Epistemologies, Lexington Publishing, Lanham, 2011.
Article Was Kenneth Burke a Pragmatist?
"Was Kenneth Burke a Pragmatist?" Transactions of the Charles S. Peirce Society (Summer 1995) At present, Kenneth Burke is primarily known as a critic of literature and rhetoric, not as a philosopher. Important affinities between Burke's views and the epistemological and metaphysical doctrines of Classical Pragmatists (e.g., Dewey and Peirce) call for a philosophical reappraisal of Burke. Part one sketches significant areas of agreement between Burke and Pragmatism, while part two details several crucial differences. I conclude that Burke is most "Pragmatic" in his early writings; his later writings on "logology" (which systematize his views on the structure of language) depart from Pragmatism's traditional emphases upon method and situation-based analysis.
Article Putnam, Pragmatism, and Dewey
"Putnam, Pragmatism, and Dewey." Transactions of the Charles S. Peirce Society (Winter 2000). Recent writings by Hilary Putnam indicate the seriousness with which he has moved toward pragmatism. Putnam has not only characterized his own position as similar to pragmatism, he has written a number of essays presenting the views of the classical pragmatists, especially James, Dewey, and Peirce. "Putnam, Pragmatism, and Dewey" examines fundamental problems with Putnam's recent efforts, especially as they pertain to Dewey's epistemology.
Article Philosophy's Relevance and the Pattern of Inquiry
"Philosophy's Relevance and the Pattern of Inquiry," Teaching Philosophy (December 1999) Philosophy has become largely irrelevant to most undergraduates. Philosophical problems seem disconnected from life, "as something said by philosophers concerning them alone," to quote John Dewey. Avoiding this requires that philosophers match course aims and methods with the abilities and circumstances of those being educated. To this end, this paper describes a pedagogical method incorporating John Dewey's "pattern of inquiry." An application of the method to an introductory text is given. The long range goals of teaching philosophy are discussed.
Article Pragmatism Neopragmatism, and Public Administration
"Pragmatism, Neopragmatism, and Public Administration" (Administration & Society, 2005) The project of harmonizing ideals and practical realities often falls to the organs of public administration. Because this task involves the application of general and fixed concepts (policies, laws, standards) to particular and fluid practicalities (situations, circumstances, persons), those in public administration need strategies to deal with unusual or problematic cases. Pragmatism seems to offer such a strategy. But which pragmatism should be used? This article is a philosophical response to two disputes. What distinguishes classical pragmatism and neopragmatism? And which pragmatism holds greater promise for public administration agencies and why? The author discusses how public administration agents might find themselves obligated to philosophize about their agency?s fundamental mission and how the resources of pragmatism might serve that (largest scale) problematic situation. Finally, the author considers two obstacles likely to be encountered by those who employ a pragmatist approach. The article may be found online at SAGE Publications.
Article Does Every Theory Deserve A Hearing
"Does Every Theory Deserve A Hearing? Evolution, Creationism, and the Limits of Democratic Inquiry." Southern Journal of Philosophy XLIV: June 2006, pp. 217-236. It's been 80 years since Dewey bemoaned fundamentalist attacks upon evolutionary biology. Despite staggering progress in science and technology, there are pitched battles over how evolution should be taught and more fundamentally what inquiries are worthy of the label "science." This paper examine the epistemological conflict and discusses some of the resources pragmatists have for repairing the damage done by this conflict to inquiry, community, and democracy.
Book: Beyond Realism
Beyond Realism and Antirealism: John Dewey and the Neopragmatists (Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press, 2003)
