American Pragmatism

Philosophy 351

Professor William Blattner
Department of Philosophy
Office: 240 New North
Phone: (202) 687-4528
 

I do not expect to offer this course again until 2005-6.

Course Description:

In this course we will explore and evaluate American Pragmatism as a philosophical movement. Although the precise range of topics and reading list vary from semester to semester, generally we tackle the following the themes:

  • Classical pragmatist understandings of the interrelationship of organism, environment, thought, meaning, and action;
  • Classical and contemporary pragmatist theories of truth and knowledge;
  • James’s utilitarian theory of value and Dewey’s criticism of it, as well as the related question whether there is an important, philosophical distinction between fact and value;
  • Potential consequences of pragmatist thought for the philosophy of religion, the free will debate, and/or the philosophy of law.

Class time shall be a mix of lecture and discussion.

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Course Requirements:

 

Two papers, one short (5 pp.) due roughly midterm, one lengthier (10-15 pp.) due during exam period. Your grade will be based entirely on paper grades:  one third for the first paper, two thirds for the second paper.

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Course Prequisites:

Completion of university core requirements in philosophy (except for Liberal Arts Seminar students in the College). No further, prior philosophy courses shall be presupposed.

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Texts:

Required:

  • William James.  The Writings of William James. McDermott (ed.). (Chicago UP).

  • John Dewey.  The Essential Dewey, vol. 2: Ethics, Logic, Psychology.  Hickman (ed.).  (Indiana UP).

  • Charles Peirce.  The Essential Writings.  Moore (ed.).  (Prometheus).

  • Hilary Putnam.  Reason, Truth, and History. (Cambridge UP).

  • Richard Rorty.  Objectivity, Relativism, and Truth. (Cambridge UP).

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Handouts and Links :

Supplementary Course Material
External Links